Actually thats one of the main thing i remember about English studies for my HSC. I'm going back 10 years now but we studied 2 movies, 1 was Clueless (Alicia Silverstone). You'd think, stupid dumb movie, but the amount you learn about portraying ideas through film and symbolism is incredible! I loved it, i still think of that stuff when i watch movies now.
I can imagine that Up in the Air would be the same, its actually not a bad piece of film when you look at it from that perspective.
Its the little things that your subconcious picks up. Like when a change is happening in the film, autumn scenes will be shown, or when its a patriotic scene ie American, the shot will be rich in Red, Blue and white. Very rarely will there be items in scenes that don't have some meaning that works with the plot.
Fantastic stuff, made me want to go into film production when i studied it.
So i became and accountant....