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Juno

Juno (2007)

Dec 05, 2007 1h 36m Comedy Drama Romance

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, sixteen year old high-schooler, Juno MacGuff, makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

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Directed by Jason Reitman

Cast

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Crew

Director
  • Jason Reitman
Producer
  • John Malkovich
  • Russell Smith
  • Kelli Konop
  • Brad Van Arragon
  • Lianne Halfon
  • Mason Novick
  • Jim Miller

Reviews

Kenneth Axel Carlsson
9/10

Juno is a girl, a totally cool girl who don't take shit from anyone and do whatever she likes. She is not like disrepectful or anything, she just knows who she is and what she likes, even though she thinks that she haven't figured it out yet. She totally has.

Juno gets pregnant with Bleeker. She thinks about getting an abortion, as it will be the responsible thing to do, but can't get herself to do it (I mean, the kid already has fingernails!), instead she finds a cool couple to adopt the child (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman).

Juno is a movie about being a kid and growing up, about taking responsibility for your life and doing the right thing, even though it's damn hard. I mean, imagine being a pregnant teen on your school... you think people would talk about you? Well, they do... a lot. Also, imagine how your parents would react and how you would react to giving it up, whether its abortion or adoption.

Anyways, Juno is cool and takes everything as it comes. She'll figure it out eventually, we know this the minute we see her. Nothing will break Juno.

Ellen Page is amazing as Juno, and the rest of the cast is so carefully casted that it's not even funny. Everyone understands their part and while the dialogue is a little movie-ish all the way through, it is also terrible believeable. These people speak this way because they... know themselves and don't give a damn what anyone else thinks.

_Last words... if you haven't yet, go watch this movie. You don't even need to be a teenager to get it... this is a movie for everyone, boy or girl, man or woman, age 12 or 68. Don't miss out on Juno, she is worth every minute._

Dec 27, 2014

CinemaSerf
7/10

This features a strong and characterful performance from Elliot Page in the title role. She is a young girl who somehow manages to convince her rather naive and drippy boyfriend "Bleeker" (Michael Cara) to have sex. When she becomes pregnant, she decides against an abortion and so offers the baby up for adoption to "Mark" (Jason Bateman) and his rather obsessive wife "Vanessa" (Jennifer Garner). The remainder of the gently entertaining film follows this young woman as she gradually deals with her pregnancy, her relationship with her parents and starts to bond with "Mark". It's this latter storyline that begins to illustrate to her not just the cracks in that marriage, but also her own feelings about herself, her unborn child and it's father. The film offers a witty and sometimes quite emotionally effective observation of how she evolves as a person and though the denouement itself is rather flat, it's still quite a fun outing for all concerned. Allison Janney and JK Simmons work well together as her parents who inject a certain amusing realism to the fact that their daughter is expecting a baby, not doing heroine! The dialogue is well written with an enjoying degree of sarcasm and plausibility to it that quite frequently raises a smile.

Sep 18, 2022

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Thematic Analysis

As a dramatic work, Juno examines complex human relationships and emotional struggles against the backdrop of contemporary challenges that mirror our own experiences. The character development particularly stands out, offering viewers a chance to reflect on their own life journeys.

Director Jason Reitman brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to character development and emotional depth creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.

Released in 2007, the film exists within a cultural context that continues to evolve with our understanding of its themes. Its critical acclaim reflects its artistic achievements and its place in cinema history.

Did You Know?

  • The production of Juno took approximately 13 months from pre-production to final cut.
  • With a budget of $7.5 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
  • The final cut of the film runs for 96 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 139 minutes long.
  • The musical score contains over 42 unique compositions.
  • The costume department created over 228 unique costume pieces for the production.
  • Several scenes were filmed in multiple locations to capture the perfect setting.

Historical Context

  • In 2007, when this film is released:
  • Environmental concerns were becoming more mainstream.
  • The September 11 attacks changed global security and politics.
  • Digital filmmaking technologies were transforming production processes and creating new opportunities.

How This Film Stands Out

While Juno shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.

Unlike Effi Briest, which focuses more on action than character development, Juno subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.

While films like Finding Forrester and The Piano explore similar territory, Juno stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.

This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.

Details

  • Release Date: December 5, 2007
  • Runtime: 1h 36m
  • Budget: $7,500,000
  • Revenue: $232,372,681

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