Cast: Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera

Director: Jason Reitman

Screenplay: Diablo Cody

Running time: 1 hr 36 mins

Genre: Indie/Comedy


REVIEW:


Every year, there’s always a film of humble origin that breaks through the lashes of blockbuster whippersnappers and emerge as an indie-darling that would have critics gushing with praises almost reaching the heavens. 2006’s luminous LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE was a faultless testament. Now this year, it’s JUNO’s turn to gain the limelight. Already nabbing the number one spot of Chicago Sun-Times’ über-critic Roger Ebert’s top ten movies of 2007, and slides effortlessly to a 93% rating in Rotten Tomatoes (and to add to the list, its spectacular nomination for Oscar Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay – phew girl! What noms you got! And all for major categories!), it’s indeed a wonder for such a small film like this to eclipse big, gigantic films of epic proportions come awards season. But does JUNO really deserve the almost-divine plaudits?


For one, there’s no denying that JUNO is a charming, quirky little film shining with delight that could easily win the audience’s hearts. It’s one those indie-that-could-be, a sleeper hit, a crowd pleaser. It’s hard to tell directly from the first few minutes of the film as it starts synthetically with our smart-alecky 16-year old teenage heroine discovers that she is pregnant, uttering helplessly “the positive sign has never been so unholy”. But after it regains consciousness and the story becomes more accessible, there is a core seemingly absent from other teenage films – a heart. It’s massive and adorable; a kind of heart that you wouldn’t expect to exist in such portentously American-ish teenage flick. After being knocked-up by dorky mate Bleeker (Michael Cera) out of sexual curiosity, Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) discovers she couldn’t face the responsibility of raising a baby into a broken, unprepared environment, after being raised in such conditions herself being abandoned by her own mother. Her father and step-mother, as modern-minded individuals as they are (probably the best parents ever in teenage film history), thwack out the melodrama of slapping and the how-dare-you scenes, and instead help her go through the pregnancy stage. She solicits a baby-free couple, Vanessa (lovely Jennifer Garner) and Mark (cool Jason Bateman), to adopt her baby. However, along the way, Juno discovers that life’s indeed a bitch; that perfect couples only exist in movies; and that the stumbles along the way gives us lessons to learn to become mature and better individuals. To all the Juno’s and Bleeker’s out there, watch this film without a hint of irreverence. You might learn something, y’know kids.


Page deserves her Oscar Best Actress nomination. As young as she is, 20 years old playing a 16-year old teenager, it’s an incredible multi-dimensional performance that will leave you empathising all of a sudden after we learn about her character. Of course, who could forget her fiery role in last year’s disturbing HARD CANDY? While she doesn’t spit out so much expletives, she does, however, elicit smart-mouthed one-liners. She’s beyond reproach a definition of a teenager with an opinion, wisecracking enough to be intelligent, and Page dissolves into the character effortlessly. By the time she shows her emotions, we learn that she’s too vulnerable after all, just being covered by her self-assurance.


Another worth mentioning would be Jennifer Garner in her most nuanced role yet, spanning her entire career. It’s such a shame that Oscars didn’t bestow the nomination for Best Supporting Actress that she deserves. Her role as Vanessa, this woman with an air of professionalism desperate to be a mother and chilly enough to be intimidating, has an amazing depth, a character arc so brilliantly pulled off. That scene in the mall where Vanessa feels the kick of the baby on Juno’s tummy is where Garner shines the brightest. It’s a quiet, glowing moment that Garner seems so genuine in her intent. Bateman as the reluctant husband/father is good as well, giving his role some seriousness when he suddenly sees all his dreams and frustration in Juno.


Meanwhile, on the dark side, it’s just amusing to know that in JUNO’s posters in cinema has a “hilarious film you’ll ever see this year!” written all over them. Let’s clarify one thing: it’s not laugh-out-loud hilarious as what you would expect. I had laughed more in ENCHANTED than I ever laughed in this one. Don’t take this wrong, JUNO is a really good film, but it’s just criminally overrated. And over-nominated too. Technically, there are other superior films out there this year. I concede to agree with the Best Actress nom for Page and Best Original Screenplay nom for Diablo Cody for his witty script – but Best Picture and Best Director? C’mon Academy! This is a pretty impressive sophomore directing effort from Jason Reitman, but to think about ATONEMENT’s Joe Wright not being nominated? I could try to imagine JUNO being Best Picture – no, I couldn’t imagine. It’s not the template Oscars is traditionally vying for. Unless of course, if they become morons.


VERDICT:


Calling this the year’s best is not a fair judgment on the year that was. Yes, JUNO has the smart-alecky script and a story to admire for – but this is certainly effervesced by the gleaming performance of one girl named Ellen Page, and a wonderful supporting act by Jennifer Garner. ‘Tis should not be called this year’s LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, as the latter is a far superior film than this.



RATING: B+