Juno (film)

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Juno
File:Junoposter2007.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJason Reitman
Written byDiablo Cody
Produced byJohn Malkovich
StarringEllen Page
Jennifer Garner
Michael Cera
Jason Bateman
CinematographyEric Steelberg
Edited byDana E. Glauberman
Music byMateo Messina
Distributed byFox Searchlight
Release dates
September 1, 2007 (Telluride)
December 5, 2007 (limited)
December 25, 2007 (wide)
Running time
96 min.
CountriesUnited States
Canada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.5 million
Box office$126,415,785

Juno is a 2007 Canadian / American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, a sharp-tongued teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy. Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman also star.

The film has earned overwhelmingly positive reviews, making many critics' top ten lists for 2007, as well as receiving four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Additionally, Juno made back its budget of $6.5 million in only 20 days, 19 of which the film was in limited release,[1] and it has gone on to make more than 18 times that amount in North America alone.

Plot

After taking three pregnancy tests, 16-year-old Minnesota high-schooler Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) discovers she is nine weeks pregnant by her friend and longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), with whom she has intercourse while Once I Loved by Astrud Gilberto plays softly in the background.[2] Although she initially opts for an abortion, a last-minute change of heart leads her to decide to have the baby and make a plan for the child's adoption. With the help of her friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby), Juno searches the Pennysaver and finds a couple she feels will provide a suitable home. Along with her father, Mac (J. K. Simmons), Juno meets the couple, Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), in their expensive home and finalizes the adoption arrangements.

As time passes, Juno strikes up a friendship with Mark, with whom she shares tastes in music, film and pop culture. Mark is a commercial composer who longs to be in a rock band as he was when he was younger, but has set aside his dreams for a conservative life with Vanessa, who longs to be a mother. As a previous potential birth mother had "gotten cold feet," Vanessa is awkward and nervous around Juno and their initial interactions are uneasy.

Months pass and Juno wrestles with the emotions she feels for her baby's father, Paulie, who is clearly — although passively — in love with Juno. Juno maintains indifference to Paulie; although when she learns he has asked another girl to the prom, she becomes hurt. Paulie reminds Juno that it is at her request they remain distant and points out he still carries a torch for her. He also states his belief that she has feelings for him she is unable to admit.

Not long before her baby is due, Juno is once again visiting with Mark when their friendship takes a sudden turn toward something more serious. Mark then confesses that he is leaving Vanessa. Vanessa arrives home and an argument ensues between her and Mark about whether or not it is "bad timing" for them to proceed with the adoption. As she watches their marriage fall apart, Juno leaves and cries on the side of the road before coming to a decision. Returning to the Lorings' home, she leaves a note for Vanessa.

After a heartfelt discussion with her father, Juno accepts that she loves Paulie and reveals her feelings to him. Later at his track event, when Paulie notices Juno is not in the stands and realizes she must be in labor, he rushes to the hospital to be with her after delivery. Afterward, he comforts Juno and they both agree not to see the baby. Instead, Vanessa comes to the hospital where she alone joyfully claims the newborn boy as a now-single adoptive mother. Above the baby's crib in his new nursery, Vanessa has replaced a portrait of her and Mark with Juno's note, which reads "Vanessa: If you're still in, I'm still in, Juno."

Main Cast

Reception

Produced with a modest budget of $6.5 million,[3]Juno grossed $117,506,107 in the U.S. and $8,909,678 in other territories for a total worldwide gross of $126,415,785 as of February 9, 2008.[4] The movie benefited from an extremely positive critical reception; as of January 19 2008 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 164 reviews.[5] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 81 out of 100, based on 37 reviews.[6] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four stars and called it "just about the best movie of the year. [...] Has there been a better performance this year than Ellen Page's creation of Juno? I don't think so."[7] Entertainment magazine Paste also named Juno the best film of 2007, in its year-end "Signs of Life" issue.[8]

The film has received nominations for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress for Ellen Page.[9]

Along with Knocked Up and Waitress, Juno has been cited as possibly having a pro-life theme, although the main star of the movie denies the existence of such theme.[10][11][12]

Top 10 lists

The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2007.[13]

Similarities to Jenny, Juno

Rumors arose about the movie's similarities to a Korean movie from 2005, Jenny, Juno, which also dealt with teen pregnancy. In the latter, 'Juno' is the boy's name and the plot centers on his personal growth and increasing maturity with his decision to support his pregnant girlfriend any way he could. Nonetheless, this coincidence has been addressed by the screenwriter Diablo Cody in her blog:

Unbeknownst to me, we had another spiritual cousin out there, a Korean movie called "Jenny, Juno", This time, the cousinry goes one step further and the movie is about – seriously – a pregnant teenager and her cute, sweet boyfriend. (The guy character is named Juno, not the girl.) There's no adoption subplot and apparently the film is otherwise dissimilar to mine, but how fucked up is that? I bring this up because a journalist drilled me about it recently – awkward! – and also because I saw someone on our IMDb board wondering if Juno was a remake of the K-flick. So for the record, 1.) it isn't a remake 2.) I haven't seen 'Jenny, Juno,' though I want to now, and 3.) I don't think anyone would even bat an eye about this if my film was called Jenny. The name Juno is just so darned distinctive that confusion is inevitable.[20]

Soundtrack

Main article: Juno (soundtrack)

The soundtrack features songs by indie pop band Belle and Sebastian (songs "Expectations" from Tigermilk and "Piazza, New York Catcher" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress), Mott the Hoople, Barry Louis Polisar, anti-folk singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson, the Kinks, Dawson's former band The Moldy Peaches, and The Velvet Underground. In addition, the various rock music that Juno and Mark exchange throughout the movie are contained on the soundtrack, a fairly unusual practice for the genre.

The soundtrack has also been generally well received, by critics and moviegoers alike. It saw unexpectedly high sales, becoming the best-selling album on the United States iTunes music store upon release and remaining so for more than ten weeks thereafter.

Awards

Wins

  • BAFTAs
    • Best Original Screenplay

Nominations

References

  1. ^ "Juno (2007) - Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  2. ^ "Movie review: 'Juno' knocked up -- and out of the park". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  3. ^ Christine, Spines (2008-02-01). "'Juno': Inside Oscar's 100 Million Dollar Baby". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  4. ^ "Juno". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  5. ^ "Juno - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  6. ^ "Juno (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  7. ^ Roger Ebert (2007-12-14). ":: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Juno (xhtml)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-12-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Signs of Life 2007: Best Films (2007)". Paste. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "80th Academy Awards nominations". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  10. ^ Peter, Howell (2008-01-30). "Juno star has a mind of her own". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  11. ^ Freeman, Hadley (2008-01-28). "A choice that films ignore". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  12. ^ Douthat, Ross (2008-01-29). "Imagining A Pro-Life America". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  13. ^ "Metacritic: 2007 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  14. ^ Roger Ebert (2007-12-20). "The year's ten best films and other shenanigans". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Juno scores best comedy
  16. ^ "MCN Top Ten". MCN. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  17. ^ David Germain (2007-12-27). "'No Country for Old Men' earns nod from AP critics". Associated Press, via Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ DB (2007-12-29). "Richard Roeper's 10 Best Films of 2007". Retrieved 2008-01-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Travers, Peter, (December 19, 2007) "Peter Travers' Best and Worst Movies of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  20. ^ Diablo Cody (October 2007). "The ##### Ranch: October 2007". diablocody.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2007-12-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007". goldenglobes.org. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Juno (film).
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