Juno

POSTED BY: Lexan
UPDATED: Monday, January 14, 2008 10:26
VIEWED: 4268
PAGE 1 of 2

1 2 NEXT PAGE

LEXAN

Monday, December 24, 2007 5:21 AM

I have been dying to see this movie. Has anyone seen it yet? It's been released in cinemas for a few days, so I would figure quite a few people have. Unfortunately, it doesn't come out in Australia until January 17, so I have to wait.

There are several things that draw me to this film- For one, Ellen Page is an absolutely phenomenal actress, her only performance I wasn't too impressed with was as Kitty Pryde but it's not as though she had a lot to work with or a particularly large role in that film. It's not that there wasn't potential; I think I read in an interview somewhere Joss say he would be keen on doing a Kitty Pryde movie and that he too thought Ellen Page was really good. Does anyone else think that's a good idea?

It's also directed by Jason Reitman of Thank you for Smoking, which I liked and has both Jason Bateman and Michael Cera from Arrested Development. How can it not be good?

WHISPER

Monday, December 24, 2007 5:53 AM

I haven't seen the movie yet, but want to.

I have read the script here ► http://www.foxsearchlight.com/awards/
If your interested in reading it. It's very funny and sweet.

http://whispergraphics.deviantart.com
http://www.myspace.com/vet_techtiff

ECGORDON

Monday, December 24, 2007 6:07 AM

My son saw it a couple of days ago, and he said he was very disappointed with it. A very contrived and manipulative script, amateurishly directed and acted (with the exception of Jason Bateman and Michael Cera).

LEXAN

Monday, December 24, 2007 11:28 PM

That's interesting, because I've heard nothing but praise for both Ellen Page and the script. For both, the awards just seem to keep on rolling. It's likely that Ellen Page will nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. If she wins, she'll be the youngest actress to ever win that award.

Don't get me wrong, I love both actors...but I don't think Michael Cera or Jason Bateman would perform any better than the others. Michael Cera is adorable but in most of his roles he just seems to play himself and I didn't know Jason Bateman could act or be funny until I saw him in AD.

I'll definitely wait to see the movie before I read the script. Hopefully, I'll be able to get preview tickets, so I'll see it a little earlier.

ECGORDON

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 12:26 AM

I didn't mean to imply that my son's opinion would be shared by others, it's just the only one I've heard from someone who has seen it. He did specify that he did not think Ellen's performance was that impressive, seemed too calculated and unrealistic. Your mileage may vary.

LEXAN

Thursday, January 10, 2008 4:39 AM

I was fortunate enough to get preview tickets and saw it last night. It was fantastic! Very original, sweet, witty and poignant, also having an inherent humbleness to it. Ellen Page and her portrayal of Juno was certainly the standout, probably the best single constituent of the film. She manages to be adorable, quirky and controlled with an air of vulnerability to her as well. Everything about the film just fit; the writing, particularly the dialogue, was superb, the directing and cinematography were perfect and impressively stylised (you can see in the correlation to Reitman's previous work his directing style and influence on the actors, though not plethorically so), the soundtrack seemed thoroughly thought out and the characters were extremely well cast. I would rarely recommend a film to almost everyone but I think a movie like this deserves such a compliment.

YINYANG

Thursday, January 10, 2008 4:56 AM

I went with a friend, and we both loved it. What I liked the most was that it allowed the story to be told without trying to spin it, allowing the characters to stay true to themselves. Juno's parents are great, and the adoptive parents are well-fleshed out IMO. I actually think most of the characters are well-fleshed out, though I'm not a huge fan of Michael Cera's character (I don't know if that was the writing or acting).

The only part neither of us really cared for was the beginning. Once we got through the first five minutes, though, the rest was gold. There were a few scenes where everyone in the theater (and it was packed on an early Saturday afternoon) was laughing so loud and so long we missed the next few lines, and I almost suggested to my friend that we go back to the ticket seller, dole out another $5.75, and see the movie again. The ending was cute without being too sweet or cliché, I thought, and... just go see it. Now.

REGINAROADIE

Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:06 AM

I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about seeing the movie due to all the hype that was attached to it. And I'd have been more pissed if this was a let-down as opposed to a summer blockbuster. Also, I was afraid that this would overshadow KNOCKED UP, which is still one of my favorite films of the year.

But I have to admit that I was really taken in by it and really enjoyed it. It still doesn't beat KNOCKED UP in my mind, but if Diablo Cody wins an Oscar for her screenplay, I wouldn't chuck something at the TV.

The thing that I liked the most about it was that even though the movie's called JUNO, it's not a one woman show. All of the supporting characters are given their moments to really show off their dimensions and humanity that in turn influence Juno. Like that scene in the mall when Juno and her friend run into Vanessa, and Vanessa kneels and talks to the baby. It shouldn't work, but it does. And what makes it work is the look on Juno's face, as the snarky attitude that she still has up to that point slowly fades as she sees this Martha Stewart wannabe shows the first bit of maternal instinct she hasn't seen yet, even from herself.

I'm sorry if this all sound like a film studies essay, but it's these kind of nuances that make the movie all that much better.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

LEXAN

Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
Also, I was afraid that this would overshadow KNOCKED UP, which is still one of my favorite films of the year.

By that line of thought, I would expect you to also worry about Waitress, which now has less chance of getting Oscar noms and other recognition because of Juno, moreso than Knocked Up. Because Juno and Waitress are both considered indie films, as opposed to KU. It seemed reasonably plausible that Keri Russell could have been nominated for best actress. These types of films don't usually get nominated but I think Juno probably will be in a few categories (script, best actress, best director, best supporting actors, maybe even best picture), though the Oscars tend to go for what they consider to be the more 'serious' type of films. Knocked Up is the least likely to be there, not because it will compared to other two movies, but because of the nature and content it entails.

Sorry for the Oscar mini-rant, I don't usually care about them but this year has been an interesting one for films and it's fun to classify by means of organised awards... or maybe just alluring...

YINYANG

Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
Like that scene in the mall when Juno and her friend run into Vanessa, and Vanessa kneels and talks to the baby. It shouldn't work, but it does. And what makes it work is the look on Juno's face, as the snarky attitude that she still has up to that point slowly fades as she sees this Martha Stewart wannabe shows the first bit of maternal instinct she hasn't seen yet, even from herself.

I agree. I wouldn't have felt nearly as good about the rest of the movie if those few moments hadn't been shown.

1 2 NEXT PAGE