Was there ever a kid at your school who dressed differently, liked all the cool indie music and talked like an extra from Dawson’s Creek or The OC? Then chances are you’ll find Juno Macguff slightly familiar. As the title character and driving force of this film, Juno is simply the coolest kid ever. And the film is just like Juno: perfectly oddball, funny and heartwarming. I’m going to go ahead and call it this year’s Little Miss Sunshine.
Juno Macguff (Ellen Page) is in a bit of a pickle. After deciding to sleep with her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), she’s having a slight case of pregnancy. After being unable to go through with an abortion she decides to give the baby up for adoption to a wealthy couple she finds in the trading post (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner).
The film may sound weird, or if you’re conservative, an endorsement of teen pregnancy and therefore evil. This film is one of the best films I have ever seen. Yep, I’m making that call. It’s the right balance of funny and moving, heartwarming and sad, and it is well presented on a narrative and visual level.
I’m not really that big a fan of the opening credits (it’s a personal thing, just rubbed me the wrong way), and I have not been won over by Kimya Dawson’s oddball charm as much as I was by Juno’s, but apart from these minor irritations I was bowled over from start to finish. The film looks great, 85% of the soundtrack is amazing, and the characters are just beautiful. The performances are terrific. Ellen Page’s nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars is surprising but in no way undeserved. For someone so young she has quite a formidable screen presence. She’s fascinating to watch and if she doesn’t win this year she certainly will win eventually. It’s an If, not a When kind of a deal.
The script is brilliant. Diablo Cody is a master at this and it’s only her first go at it. I’m impressed. Fuck, I’m even jealous. It’s a blinding debut and I think she has a good chance of picking up an Oscar as well.
More films should be like this.
If you like this you should:
* Become a fan of the Moldy Peaches
* Watch You, Me and Everyone We Know (Miranda July, 2005)
* Read The Pussy Ranch, Diablo Cody's blog.
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