On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 2/48 |
Kim Hollis |
I simply loved this film. Ellen Page is spectacular and the story offers some surprises. |
| 4/46 |
Les Winan |
A fantastic, well-written film that boasts a terrific cast and many, many laughs. |
| 5/94 |
Shane Jenkins |
Hilarious, touching, and it has Moldy Peaches! What's not to love? |
| 8/214 |
Max Braden |
A little light on the 'issue' but this is a good mix of great dialogue and characters that are genuinely sweet. The other side of Superbad. |
| 20/33 |
John Seal |
Too much arch dialogue, too little character development |
"Teenagers having baby" stories seem to be all the rage lately. Nick Hornby's latest book, aimed at young adults, deals with the subject matter in a couple of different ways, and before year's end, we'll see the release of Juno, an indie flick that was extremely well received at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.
Juno first hit our radar when we read the Variety story about Diablo Cody and her deal to write the screenplay. Though Cody is not a household name, she has gained a bit of Internet notoriety thanks to a blog about her experiences as a stripper. She has also written a book about her life, including her work as a phone sex operator in between stripping gigs. On the strength of these works, she got some screenplay deals, including Juno.
Jason Reitman, who previously directed the terrific Thank You for Smoking, helms a keen ensemble cast. The lead role belongs to Ellen Page, previously seen in Hard Candy and playing Kitty Pryde in the X-Men: The Last Stand. The group is rounded out by J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney, who portray her parents, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner and Rainn Wilson. The story looks at the offbeat decisions Juno chooses to make when she becomes pregnant as a teen.
With 2007 producing few true indie breakout films, it appears that Juno may be the first one to have a great chance at catching the attention of the American public thanks to its apparent humor and appealing leads. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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