http://www.indy.com/posts/3609 en-us Robert Hammerle Kimikokopuffs: I agree that there are far more dismissive terms than "overrated." However, one of them is "ridiculously overrated." I wonder how anyone applying that phrase to "Juno" will feel when "Juno" is nominated for best picture, best actress (Ellen Page) and best original screenplay (Diablo Cody)? And I could go one step further and make the case that J. K. Simmons deserves a nomination for best supporting actor. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:56:09 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10994 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10994 Robert Hammerle Matt: Actually, Matt, I basically agree with you. For example, despite my obvious fondness for "Juno", I recognize that it could be legitimately criticized for trivializing teenage pregnancy; being overly fond of its cutesiness; or the demeaning manner that it portrays a Planned Parenthood type facility. But to simply dismiss something as "overrated", much less "ridiculously overrated", artistically is meaningless. Saying nothing about the critic's own personal view of the movie, it simply couches an analysis in terms of what others have said. Clearly, you and I both know that there are critics appearing everyday in newspaper movie adds (i.e. Pete Hammond of Maxim, Shawn Edwards of somewhere, and even the increasingly irrelevant Peter Traverse of Rolling Stone) whose critiques are best ignored. But my God, man, what was going on with you when you saw the "The Royal Tennenbaums"? I saw it twice within ten days when it was originally released in the theaters, and I still treasure it as one of the most irreverent, black comedies of the past ten years! (On the other hand, I am a criminal defense lawyer by profession, so what do I know!) Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:34:19 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10987 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10987 Robert Hammerle Chris I clearly understand your point. However, the irony is that I personally felt a strong emotional attachment to all of the characters in "Juno". Again, I felt it was on e of the most intelligent and heartfelt movies of the year. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:44:57 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10958 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10958 Matt.Gonzales The phrases over- and underrated: Overrated. Why is it whenever a movie (especially a comedy) generates fervent praise from viewers and critics alike ("Borat," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Napoleon Dynamite") those with opposing viewpoints get super-indignant. It's not enough for them to point out their personal distaste, but they must also imply that everyone else's judgment is flawed by calling it "overrated?" What's up with that? On that note, I thought "The Royal Tennenbaums" was TOTALLY overrated. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:28:45 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10956 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10956 kimikokopuffs p.s. Robert, I was pretty sympathetic to Jason Bateman's character on first viewing. I didn't think there was really any sort of villain in this movie at all. It's all about Juno. Kind of how Napoleon Dynamite was all about Napoleon. Quirky and cute and smart with completely endearing and touching supporting characters. I have nothing bad to say about it. I guess things could be worse than "overrated." That's not saying that it was bad, just that someone talked it up too much and expectations were unrealistically high. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:15:20 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10955 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10955 Robert Hammerle Juno is "RIDICULOUSLY OVERRATED"? Please tell me that you have a Busch-Cheney bumper sticker still on your car. Or was your sense of humor and pathos accidentally removed as a child? Are you supporting Romney for President? If the answer to any of those 3 are yes, then, and only then, can I understand. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:50:06 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10952 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10952 kimikokopuffs I think it's only overrated if you've been listening to all the hype. That's the problem with the industry. You get all this buzz then have overly inflated expectations and are set up to fail. I saw "Juno" before much of the buzz had started and absolutely loved it. Would see it again. Would buy it. Want the soundtrack. That said, I really prefer to see movies without even having seen a preview. I don't want to know too much about what other people are saying about it because it ruins it for me and puts preconceived notions in my head. I can't tell you how many really great movies I've seen and was totally unimpressed by and dismissed as overrated because of this. Completely unfortunate. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:09:51 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10942 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10942 Christopher Lloyd With apologies to Robert and Joe, I must concur with Stellar. No question "Juno" is a good movie, well-acted and directed. Best movie of the year? Sorry. Admittedly, it has a lot of great lines. ("I'm already pregnant, so what kind of shenanigans am I going to get into?") But they're self-aware, sounds-so-written quips that are meant to jump out at you rather than exist within the moment of the scene. It's the sort of movie where you stop and think to yourself, "What a great line!" Meanwhile, while you're thinking about what a great line it was, the movie rolls on by. Anything that draws you out of the experience so that you mentally comment on the experience by nature creates a distance between the viewer and the film. That's why I didn't feel any emotional attachment to the characters or what they were going through. I was just waiting for the next delicious zinger. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:33:57 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10938 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10938 StellarSwarm Arrrgh! On a scale of 1 to awesome, Juno gets a firm RIDICULOUSLY OVER RATED!!! Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:24:57 -0500 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10935 http://www.indy.com/posts/3609#comment_10935