Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here, with one last bit of fun before the Thanksgiving holiday absorbs us.

Talk is cheap, I know. And I’ve been talking up the new film from writer-director Jason Reitman, UP IN THE AIR, for weeks now. I’ll have my full-on review very soon, but to summarize it in a few words: I think it’s the best movie of 2009 so far. I still have a small handful of year-end films to sample--including big ones like AVATAR, THE LOVELY BONES, SHERLOCK HOLMES, IVICTUS, and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL--but right now, with one month left in the year, UP IN THE AIR is my favorite. I also made it my personal goal this fall to screen all three efforts starring George Clooney (we got an exclusive screenings of THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS as well as seats for FANTASTIC MR. FOX), just because I think these three films are among his finest, including UP IN THE AIR, which I believe to be the best acting he’s ever done. And his co-stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick aren’t half bad either.

Still, there are only so many kind words I can use, so many clips and trailers I can post, before the readership begins to say to me, “Okay, dude, why don’t you just show us the damn movie and prove to us just how good UP IN THE AIR actually is. Back your big words with action, mofo.” Fair enough…

The exclusive Ain’t It Cool News screening of UP IN THE AIR will take place Thursday, December 3 at 6:30 pm at a theater in downtown Chicago (only contest winners will get the location details). I have about 250 seats to fill, so here’s how to secure a pass good for You and One Guest. If you stray from these instructions even a little bit, you're out of the running!

Send me an email at therealcapone@aintitcoolmail.com with the subject line "FLY ME TO THE CLOON". In the body of the email, I need YOUR FULL NAME and whether or not you’ll be bringing a guest. Your guest’s name is not required, but if you don’t have a specific committed guest in mind, please don’t tell me you’re bringing one; we’re getting way too many no-show guests lately, and those are seats that go to waste. In the body of the email, answer the following question: “What is the most messed-up thing you’ve ever seen or had happen in an airport?” I’m not looking for sob stories about missing flights or long lines; that’s too easy (unless the reason is particularly juicy). Please keep your answers to 75 words or less, no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit.

Winners will receive an email from me right after the holiday weekend and your names will be posted on the site, so send in your entries soon. Winners must bring a photo ID to the screening to get in--no exceptions. Good luck, everyone! See you there.

-- Capone
therealcapone@aintitcoolmail.com
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