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Juno
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 in Movies
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Just got back from seeing Juno at Circle Centre (thanks for the heads up on the free tix, Garin. You rock!). It may be the best movie I've seen all year. I'd say it with more conviction if my memory wasn't so similar to that of a goldfish and I could remember all the movies I've seen in the past month, let alone the past eleven.
I think most already know the story: Sarcastic and spirited teenager gets pregnant, seeks out a couple to adopt her unborn child (in a sentence). Sounds more like the description of a movie on Lifetime than an adorable movie one would (and should) pay money to see, I know, but believe me, this is no drama of the day.
The writing, the dialogue (why is spell check underlining dialogue...isn't this the way it's spelled?)...truly superb (pretty sure I've never used that word in a sentence, but it fits). I'll have to see it again because I know there were times my laughter (or that of those around me) made me miss the next line.
I don't think I've ever seen Ellen Page in a movie before, but I bet I'll be seeing her in plenty more. The other actors were more familiar to me. Michael Cera must've walked off the Superbad set upon it's completion and right onto the Juno set...without blinking an eye. You wonder what happened to the principal on 10 Things I Hate About You? She's now a Nail Tech and stepmom (Allison Janney). J.K. Simmons was quite a bit softer than the character he plays on Spiderman, but you'll still recognize him.
I can't say enough about this movie and how much I loved it.
As much as I thought I knew what to expect when I went to see this movie, it still managed to sneak in a surprise or two. How appropriate!
Yes indeed you will, and can (now) some of her movies are available on DVD.
Hard Candy has and will, get alot of mention. It is a good movie, but I must "warn" you. It will be like no other you have seen in its power.
Also, she did a turn in X3.
Upcoming projects include An American Crime (relase date unknown, this movie has Indy ties). Smart People (4/11/2008 release) Also on DVD WILBY WONDERFUL, and MARION BRIDGE.
She also was in Homeless to Harvard (w/Thora Birch), and the Lifetime Movie "Ghost Cat".
WHY don't I remember her in X3? Warning heeded...maybe tonight is a Hard Candy rental night?
She played Kitty Pryde, the alternate love interest for Iceman, in X3--the one who can walk through walls and fought the Juggernaut at the end.
Run, don't walk, to your preferred rental palace and pick up Hard Candy.
She played Kitty Pryde, the alternate love interest for Iceman, in X3--the one who can ...
With one word from the video store cashier, "Bizarre", it's been rented. I drove by the way. Running (unless being chased by a knife wielding, masked man) just doesn't appeal.
Okay...so four minutes to go! Somebody push play!grin
While running would have been more aerobically beneficial (and environmentally friendly), I can't begrudge your choice. Please let us all know what you thought.
BTW, I have a movie I just finished that I'm going to post on in the morning. It's too dang late an hour to review a movie (especially two nights in a row!).
You're right and now I'm suffering some good ol' Catholic girl guilt (and I'm not even Catholic)...oh, well, it's Thanksgiving, I admit defeat in the exercise vs. calorie intake department...and I'll claim personal safety (it WAS dark and the video store IS 5 blocks away) over being environmentally safe.
So....in a word, the video store clerk was right. BIZARRE. Actually, it wasn't as bizarre as I expected, but it WAS UNexpected. My new favorite quote (as Haylie attempts to castrate the alleged pedophile): "I wonder why they teach Girl Scouts things like camping and selling cookies, you know? 'Cause this is what's really useful." Ya gotta love that!
I'll admit I was having an internal moral war. Am I a "innocent-until-proven-guilty-let-our-justice-system-handle-this" kinda girl...or am I a "you-go-girl-give-the-man-what-he-deserves" kinda girl?
As I watched it, I kept thinking there was no way a 14 yr. old would/could do that (I know a thing or two about 14 yr. olds having been one and raised a couple!), I was disturbed and equally impressed. But, this morning I started to wonder if she really WAS 14 or if she was some undercover adult vigilante. Either way, I just love that Ellen Page. She delivers those lines like she's just repeating conversation she's experienced. Charming in Juno...scary in Hard Candy!
So...dying to know...what did YOU watch last night. I'll look for your review.
That's what was so great about it. As a viewer your loyalties shift several times during the course of the film. At times you're thinking "get that son of a b---h," and other times you're like "well, maybe he's not guilty."
And that "castration" scene was one of the most squirmy and uncomfortable things a guy can see on film, and all they showed was his face and hers.
I'll have my review up for the movie I saw soon. But I think I won't tell you which one it is yet. I'll keep up the suspense for awhile!
Destined to be a "must-buy" onm ylist. I loved this movie. Refreshing. Witty. And totally endearing.
I went to see Juno again, yesterday. It felt different to me. Sadder. The wit and awesome dialogue was still there (much that I missed the first time around), but for some reason the strong and independent Juno seemed more vulnerable and scared this time. How can that be?
I went to see Juno again, yesterday. It felt different to me. Sadder. The wit ...
Maybe because it's just intrinsically sad that a kid would have to face that. All the wisecracks in the world couldn't obscure that.
I went to see Juno again, yesterday. It felt different to me. Sadder. The wit ...
I thought there was a great sadness to the picture, and that Juno was very much a vulnerable character. The wisecracks were a thin facade used to hide that insecurity and the fact that she's terrified at what is facing her. I love her response to her father saying "I didn't think you were that kind of girl," and she said "I'm not sure what kind of girl I am." I think that's the line of the film.
That's my favorite (and most telling) quote of the movie, too, Joe. I did see her sarcasm as a defense mechanism the first time around...but, this time I just saw SO much more sadness than the first time...and not only Juno's sadness. I've heard some people say that this movie glorifies teen pregnancy...I think it does anything BUT!
Still, my favorite movie of 2007.
That's my favorite (and most telling) quote of the movie, too, Joe. I did see ...
Not surprising, but I disagree that it glorifies teen pregnancy. I think on the contrary it deals with it in most mature terms. She does talk about how miserable she was being pregnant.