A teenage girl finds out she is pregnant and must make
a life-altering decision regarding her unborn child. COMEDY/DRAMA
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Juno (2007)Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Diablo Cody Starring Elliot Page, Michael Cera, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Olivia Thirlby Oscar Wins - Best Original Screenplay Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Actress (Elliot Page), Best Director |
Juno is a hilarious and insightful indie film darling that has always been on my list, and thanks to a podcast focus on Jason Reitman, I finally had a reason to watch it. So few films treat pregnancy and the desire (or lack thereof) to have children as just a regular everyday occurrence. Juno's decision to keep the baby and give it to ultimately a single mother is handled so intelligently. Nobody is judged for anything. Juno gets to keep living her life with her new boyfriend, and Vanessa gets to be a mom without any of that single-parent stigma that I see so much in film. Coming from the child of a single mother, that shit always gets on my nerves. But not Juno. This film gets it.
The story is refreshingly simple. Juno (Page) has a spontaneous one-night stand with her best friend Bleecker (Cera) that results in an unplanned pregnancy. She considers abortion, but can't go through with it, so she finds a couple looking to adopt. Vanessa (Garner) and Mark (Bateman) make a deal with Juno, and she carries the baby to term. Along the way, she's forced to grow up in more ways than one, especially when she learns Mark still has unfulfilled dreams and doesn't want to be a father. On a side note, few characters play unlikable douchebags as well as Jason Bateman. Every moment of Juno's journey feels earned and realistic. It's no wonder Diablo Cody took home an Oscar for it. I've often spoke about my general dislike of coming-of-age films. That's why I appreciate films like Juno, which avoids all the tropes and irritations that I can't stand. Juno has something to say about the choices we make as teenagers, and the people we choose to share our lives with. And you've gotta have a heart of stone to not relate to something in this movie. |
Directed by indie film legend, Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, Juno is one of those small films that has such an excellent script, that actors just had to be a part of it and people had to see it. It made a solid splash during award season and at the box office.
We are with Juno (Elliot Page) every scene, as she navigates the decisions that have to be made after she finds out that she is pregnant with Bleeker’s (Michael Cera) baby. Family and close friends are involved, but Juno ultimately makes a decision based on what’s best for the baby. This film will make you laugh and cry, as well as refer you to some kick-ass rock music and slasher films. There’s a reason Diablo won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay with this raw and purely original story. |