December 7, 2007
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Go See It!
Need an escape this weekend? Crave a feeling of connectedness to a life that is not yours and people who you don’t even know and are made up anyway? Want nothing more than to slip into a matinee and let cozy darkness and story wash over you? My hot cinema tip? Juno.
Yes, I know there are a bizarre number of Unplanned Pregnancy Movies lately (Knocked Up, Waitress) and I am just as annoyed at the warm, fuzzy look at unplanned, young, single parenthood as any sane person. These movies tend to be more about how quirky, offbeat, and fun unplanned pregnancy is. With bonus scenes full of soul searching and hormonal emotion! And you thought young, unplanned, single motherhood was all about financial hardship, an unsupportive society, and social ostrasization.
Gag me.
On the bright side, at least our culture is finally acknowledging that, lots of times, hetero sex = babies. And roughly half of all American babies are unplanned. So Unplanned Pregnancy Movies are at very least telling stories about something that happens a lot in our county, stories that have never been given much time before. Why the sudden onslaught of such movies is beyond me. But if it has something to do with our obsession over celebrity baby bumps, I can only say it again: GAG ME!
Anyhow, even though Juno is falls into the Unplanned Pregnancy Movie category, it is not a movie about its genre. It is a movie about a fresh, likable, and (most unique to this genre) believable young woman named Juno MacGuff, played fantastically by Ellen Page. Juno is the kind of brave, fierce, whip-smart female protagonist that easily commands your attention. She is cool. She is smart. She is together, despite her belly ‘o’ accidental baby.
When disclosing her pregnancy to her father, played by J.K. Simmons, he remarks, “I thought you were the kind of girl who knew when to say when.” With acting that promises great things from Ellen Page, Juno replies, “I don’t really know what kind of girl I am.”
And that is the best part about this movie. Juno isn’t any kind of girl. And neither are any of the characters in this completely worth while film. Plus, the soundtrack is kick ass. That’s really something that you’re not likely to find in any other movie about unwanted fetuses.
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How about you? See anything good lately?
::Random Tangent::
The second interview at the writers workshop went really, really, really good. Today, I got an overwhelmingly positive call from them. I hear for shizzle on Monday, after my background check (which says nothing except what a law abiding, bill paying, very hard working, creative person I am) is complete. Fingers crossed!Also, I crashed out at 1.17 am last night. So much for nightswimming.
Comments (2)
I was wondering about the night swimming. Sleep is indeed good too.I want to see Juno! I saw the trailer and wished we’d gone to that. In truth it was the only trailer that was good. Maybe I will check the times and go alone tonight.Oh, I remember The Snapper. That was the last good unplanned preggers till this one I suspect.Yay on the job! I am excited to hear what happens and fingers are crossed!
I know cultural critics often look for reasons for so many films or shows of one genre or plotline. The simple answer is this: Lack of originality or bravery to try something new. No one can come up with new ideas, it seems, but at least whoever greenlighted Juno permitted something with some freshness to it.Good luck on the j-o-b! Hope it comes through for you!