Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Juno In December

I love this time of year, a time of year when critics and film writers get the chance to see movies in Venice and Toronto, and anticipated films start being released in theaters. Certain movies and roles begin to take flesh, and suddenly out of nowhere smaller films and new acting roles generate buzz.

I love reading the buzz that Ellen Page's role in the movie Juno has created in Toronto at TIFF. And not just that Ellen Page does a good job but that people genuinely have enjoyed the film, not just appreciate Page's performance.

Roger Erbet said a couple days ago: "I predict will become quickly beloved when it opens at Christmas time, and win a best actress nomination for its 20- year old star, Ellen Page."

Juno is a comedy/drama about a 16 year old girl who becomes pregnant and decides to put the baby up for adoption, but there is so much praise for the unique texture writer Diablo Cody brings into the film.

Juno is directed by 30-year old Jason Reitman who directed last year's Thank You For Smoking (a film which WAS hanging on in my top 10 of 2006, until The Lives of Others recently booted it off). If Juno is what critics are saying, than I'll be keeping my eye on Reitman, because the film terrain could use a little more intelligent comedy these days.

Ellen Page is certainly slipping into the right types of roles, and clearly has talent after her critical turn in last years Hard Candy, and playing an intense role in An American Crime, as well as an intense line up for 2008 (including Jack & Diane where Page will play a teenage lesbian alongside Olivia Thirlby, who also plays a supporting role in Juno, pictured above). Although more people will probably recognize her from X-Men 3 playing the part of Kitty Pryde.

With big name stars like Laura Linney, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Julie Christie, Jodie Foster, Halle Berry, Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, & Keri Russell all having a possiblity of a best actress nomination, could Page really creep in to the short list as Ebert predicts?

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5 comments:

J.D. said...

Ellen Page is so awesome. If the phrase "Oscar-nominated" could be put in front of that, that's proof enough that God loves me.

Anonymous said...

I knew Page had it in her but I never realized she'd get it out so darn fast. I can't wait to see "Juno"!

Will said...

I've only seen Ellen in Hard Candy, but she was INCREDIBLE. I seriously wondered how she got passed over for a Best Actress nom for that one.

nate said...

What a great "real life" subject...I want to see this.

b13 said...

Hard Candy was a great flick. I will have to check out her other movies as well. Thanks for the info.