Juno (2007)

Director:

Jason Reitman

Writer (WGA):

Diablo Cody (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way.

Plot:

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

Plot Keywords:

Abortion | Adoption | Best Friend | Pregnancy | Suburb

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 49 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

Ellen Page	...	Juno MacGuff
Michael Cera	...	Paulie Bleeker
Jennifer Garner	...	Vanessa Loring
Jason Bateman	...	Mark Loring
Allison Janney	...	Brenda 'Bren' MacGuff
J.K. Simmons	...	Mac MacGuff
Olivia Thirlby	...	Leah
Eileen Pedde	...	Gerta Rauss
Rainn Wilson	...	Rollo
Daniel Clark	...	Steve Rendazo
Darla Vandenbossche	...	Bleeker's Mom
Aman Johal	...	Vijay
Valerie Tian	...	Su-Chin Qah
Emily Perkins	...	Punk Receptionist
Kaaren de Zilva	...	Ultrasound Technician
Steven Christopher Parker	...	Guy Lab Partner
Candice Accola	...	Girl Lab Partner
Sierra Pitkin	...	Liberty Bell MacGuff
Lucas MacFadden	...	Chemistry Teacher (as Cut Chemist)
Eve Harlow	...	Tough Girl
Kirsten Williamson	...	Nurse
Emily Tennant	...	Pretty-to-Goth Girl
Ashley Whillans	...	Katrina De Voort
Jeff Witzke	...	Track Announcer / Dad Smile Photo
Colin McSween	...	Keith Conyers - a teacher
Peggy Logan	...	Sex Ed Teacher
Cameron Bright	...	RPG Nerd
Joy Galmut	...	Delivery Room Doctor
Wendy Russell	...	Vanessa's Friend #1
Robyn Ross	...	Vanessa's Friend #2
Dallas Hanson	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Bryson Russell	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Derek Mann	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Keith Frost	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Grayson Grant	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Robin Watts	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Tyler Watts	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Brandon Barton	...	Dancing Elk Track Team
Josephine Reitman	...	Kid Smile Photo
Oliver Gorin	...	Kid Smile Photo
Ethan Steelberg	...	Kid Smile Photo
Matthew Sanders	...	Utrasound Baby

Directed by
Jason Reitman

Writing credits (WGA)
Diablo Cody		(written by)

Produced by
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer (as Joe Drake)
Daniel Dubiecki	....	executive producer
Lianne Halfon	....	producer
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Kelli Konop	....	co-producer
John Malkovich	....	producer
Jim Miller	....	co-producer
Mason Novick	....	producer
Russell Smith	....	producer
Brad Van Arragon	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Matt Messina		(as Mateo Messina)

Cinematography by
Eric Steelberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dana E. Glauberman

Casting by
Kara Lipson
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Steve Saklad

Art Direction by
Michael Diner
Catherine Schroer

Set Decoration by
Shane Vieau

Costume Design by
Monique Prudhomme

Makeup Department
Sandy Cooper	....	makeup artist
Victoria Down	....	key makeup artist
Monica Huppert	....	makeup artist
Toby Lindala	....	special makeup effects artist
Sherry Linder-Gygli	....	key hair stylist (as Sherry Gygli)
Ann Pala	....	makeup artist: J. Garner
Robert A. Pandini	....	hair stylist (as Robert Pandini)
Lance Webb	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Jack Schuster	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Williams	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chad Belair	....	third assistant director
Jason Blumenfeld	....	first assistant director
Josy Capkun	....	second assistant director
Gary Hawes	....	second assistant director
John McKeown	....	assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
John Beatty	....	construction coordinator
Josephine Bleuer	....	key greensperson (as Josi Bleuer)
Mike Carter	....	greens person
Michael Church	....	set dresser (as Mike Church)
Alex Cram	....	assistant property master
Doug Currie	....	paint coordinator
Paul Arthur Hartman	....	set dresser (as Paul Hartman)
Michael Jovanovski	....	set dresser
Dusty Kelly	....	lead painter
Bryan Korenberg	....	property master
Sergio Lavilla	....	set dresser
Johanna Manders	....	greens person
Dale Menzies	....	carpenter (as Dale Manzies)
D.J. Miller	....	greens person
Melissa Olson	....	assistant set decorator (as Melissa Grace Olson)
Susan Spaid	....	set dresser (as Susan Spade)
Kevin Tomecek	....	lead carpenter
Lori West	....	art department coordinator
Christopher Wishart	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Barney Cabral	....	supervising adr editor
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	sound editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	supervising dialogue editor
J. Stanley Johnston	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bradley Kita	....	sound assistant (as Brad Kita)
Michael Kreple	....	foley mixer
James Kusan	....	sound mixer
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Nick Neutra	....	foley supervisor
Rick Owens	....	foley artist
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Potvin	....	sound consultant: dolby
Perry Robertson	....	supervising sound editor
Scott Sanders	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Sanders	....	supervising sound designer
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound mix recordist (as Gabe Serrano)
Frederick H. Stahly	....	sound editor (as Fred Stahly)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Tony Wyman	....	boom operator
Kevin Zimmerman	....	first assistant sound editor (as Kevin A. Zimmerman)
David Hingorany	....	sound mix engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Bolan	....	special effects technician (as Mike Bolan)
Rory Cutler	....	special effects technician
Ian Korver	....	special effects technician
Ken Reynolds	....	special effects technician
John Sleep	....	special effects supervisor
Attila Vaski	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Go Aoyama	....	CG artist: CosFX
Cosmas Paul Bolger Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor: CosFX
James Chu	....	CG artist: CosFX
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals: Efilm (as Pat Clancey)
Brandon Flyte	....	CG artist: CosFX
Owen Holdren	....	CG supervisor: CosFX
Ken Locsmandi	....	visual effects production coordinator: CosFX
Sharon Stetzel	....	visual effects producer: CosFX
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunt coordinator (as Scott Ateah)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Askey	....	key grip (as David Askey)
Igor Beuhler	....	grip (as Igor Bueller)
Stefan Burianyk	....	grip (as Stephan Burianyk)
John Clothier	....	camera operator
Marty Coady	....	best boy grip
John Dekker	....	chief lighting technician
Doane Gregory	....	still photographer
Patrick Hogue	....	camera loader
Patrick Hogue	....	second assistant camera
Randy A. Jablonka	....	lighting technician (as Randy Jablonka)
David Kershaw	....	dolly grip
David W. Leblanc	....	lighting technician (as David Leblanc)
Ian R.C. Levine	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Ian Lavigne)
David Lourie	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as David Laurie)
Michael Mayo	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Dean Morin	....	second assistant camera
Vince Phillips	....	grip
Andrew Towson	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Andrew Towsen)
Stewart Whelan	....	first assistant camera
Ken Decker	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Simon Jori	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting: Vancouver
Coreen Mayrs	....	casting: Vancouver
Tiffany Mak	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Trica Thompson	....	casting coordinator: Canada (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Bradley	....	costumer: J. Garner
Christine Coutts	....	assistant costume designer
Summer Eves	....	truck costumer
Lise Hache	....	costumer
Paul Lavigne	....	costume set supervisor (as J. Paul Lavigne)

Editorial Department
Yanosh Cuglove	....	editorial intern
Omar Hassan-Reep	....	post-production assistant
Tim Krubsack	....	digital intermediate consultant: Efilm
Natasha Leonnet	....	colorist
Loan Phan	....	digital intermediate producer: Efilm
Martha Pike	....	digital intermediate editor: Efilm
Clay Rawlins	....	first assistant editor
Tom Reiser	....	color timing assistant: Efilm

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Jason Faulkner	....	guitar teacher
Oren Hadar	....	score mixer
Hodges	....	guitar teacher
Alison Litton	....	music coordinator
Nick South	....	music editor
Margaret Yen	....	music supervisor
Robert Scott Crane	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Scott Delaplace	....	transportation captain
Clif Kosterman	....	transportation coordinator
Shawn O'Hearn	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Rachel Chapman	....	assistant: Mr. Kahane
Samantha Christian	....	assistant chef
Sandra Cinelli	....	chef
Peter Cummings	....	clearance coordinator
Dave Daniels	....	production assistant
Shelly Darden	....	assistant: Mr. Mudd (as Shelley Darden)
Alex Dias	....	production assistant
Karyn Edwards	....	production legal: Canada
Helen Estabrook	....	assistant: Mr. Dubiecki
Helen Estabrook	....	assistant: Mr. Reitman
Evan Godfrey	....	assistant: Mr. Reitman
Saskia Gould	....	stand-in
Soo Hugh	....	assistant: Mr. Drake
Kris Kadzielski	....	trainee assistant location manager
Krista Kelloway	....	on-set assistant to producers
Katya Krotenko	....	stand-in
Sidney LeClaire	....	assistant accountant
Jenny Lee	....	title designer
Mary Lee	....	creative executive: Mandate Pictures
Sue Levens	....	production accountant
Christopher McDonell	....	location scout (as Christopher MacDonnell)
Emily Millard	....	assistant: Ms. Garner
Keli Moore	....	location coordinator
Darrin Pearson	....	security coordinator (as Darren Pearson)
Corby-Lynn Pinder	....	production assistant (as Corby Pinder)
Holly Pinder	....	key location production assistant
Matthew Reis	....	assistant: Mr. Novick (as Matt Reis)
Melissa Repka	....	stand-in
Sheryl Rhodes	....	assistant production coordinator
Kyle Riefsnyder	....	stand-in (as Kyle Reifsnyder)
Lawra Robertson	....	on-set assistant to producers
Neil Robertson	....	location manager
Tania Rosa	....	assistant accountant
Stephanie Rossel	....	script supervisor
Ari Sachter-Zeltzer	....	main title producer
Helen Sideris	....	post accounting
Rhonda Simpson	....	craft service (as Ronda Simpson)
Rhonda Simpson	....	first aid (as Ronda Simpson)
Troy Sitter	....	on-set assistant to producers
Gareth Smith	....	title designer
E. Michael Stankevich	....	assistant: Mr. Mudd (as Michael Stankevich)
Chris Thoma	....	assistant location manager (as Christian Thoma)
Nicole Vaughan	....	assistant chef
Jeremy Walker	....	unit publicist
Trevor Westerhoff	....	production coordinator
Terri Willan	....	craft service
Terri Willan	....	first aid
Terry Wong	....	production assistant
Jeff Wonnenberg	....	second assistant production coordinator
Claudia Costa	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)
Claudia Costa	....	production assistant to assistant director (uncredited)
Ryan Mains	....	assistant location manager: re-shoots (uncredited)
Shaun Moskie	....	key production assistant (uncredited)
John T.L. Tang	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Warden	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Ethan Berger	....	thanks
David Choe	....	thanks
Rick Clark	....	special thanks
Melissa Havard	....	thanks
Angie Hensley	....	thanks
Eddie Lin	....	thanks
Tara McPherson	....	thanks
Eleanor O'Connor	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Mandate Pictures
• Mr. Mudd

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Group Power (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Mirovision (2008) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Pyramid (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2008) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2008) (France) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• CosFX (visual effects) (as Cos FX Films, Inc.)

Other Companies

• DeWitt Stern Insurance Services  insurance services (as DeWitt Stern)
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• EarCandy  sound post-production
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Executive Cutter)
• Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz  production legal: USA
• K I N D Studios  score recorded at
• L.A. Digital Post  post-production services (as LA Digital Post)
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Nike  thanks
• Panavision Canada  camera equipment provided by
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Post Creations  foley recorded at
• Rhino Records  soundtrack
• Shadowplay Studio  titles
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• T.V. Dinners  catering
• Technicolor Creative Services  transfer services (as Technicolor Creative Services, Vancouver)
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility
• Wildfire Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Junebug (USA) (working title)
Juno (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | UK:12A | Ireland:15A | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Sweden:7 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43795) | Germany:6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:10 | South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:AL | UK:12 (video rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Greece:K | Taiwan:PG-12 | New Zealand:M | France:U | Peru:14 | Iceland:7

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Mandate Pictures

Trivia:

The hamburger phone also turns up in Bleeker's room, and can be seen clearly in the background.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Juno takes the pregnancy test at the store she opens the box and there is no inner wrapping, no directions, nothing. She just opens the box and there it is.

Quotes:

Juno MacGuff: Yeah, I'm a legend. You know, they call me the cautionary whale.

Movie Connections:

References "My So-Called Life" (1994)

Soundtrack:

All I Want Is You

A heartwarming and bittersweet little comedy

Following all of the hype, it was impossible for me to not want to see Juno. Everyone has raved about it for months, and I waited patiently for it to be released somewhere nearby. And the wait definitely made it worthwhile.

Juno chronicles the story of the titular sixteen-year-old girl (played by Ellen Page), and the fallout of her accidental pregnancy. After deciding to not have an abortion, Juno decides that she will give the baby up for adoption to would-be parents Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) after finding an ad in the local classified section of the newspaper.

It may not sound like a deep film, but right from moment one, the film draws you into Juno's bizarre world of teenage angst and wonderment. It progresses through the stages of her pregnancy (and the seasons that pass), and through the various problems and issues that arise as a result of the pregnancy.

This is aided almost exclusively by the commanding presence of Page. Her work here is simply astounding, and watching her mature as the film goes on is the stuff of movie magic. She plays Juno with a chip on her shoulder, and a keen sense of tongue in cheek. She is very in tune with the role, and even though it is not wholly original, she makes it her own and gives it a grand sense of earnestness (and pathos when needed). She plays it even better during the more hormonal aspects of the pregnancy, and she makes her undeniable mark on the movie-going public as she does. After seeing her intense, calculating and downright terrifying work in Hard Candy, I knew that she would be a presence to be reckoned with. And in seeing Juno, I now know that she truly will continue to grow into a great actress.

Supporting turns from just about everyone only further complement Page's terrific acting. Garner and Bateman, while not as well written as Page, do great as the would-be adoptive parents. While Bateman taps into his not so over-the-top side (which he used to his great advantage in scene-stealing roles in Smokin' Aces and The Ex), and gives a great character performance, Garner does even better as the over-domineering wife. She gives the role a slightly creepy tinge in a few cases, but for the most part, delivers one of her best performances. While not as commanding as he was in Superbad, Michael Cera, as the father of Juno's baby, gives his character a glossy sense of naivety as the film begins, but slowly falls into a grander sense of geeky goodness as the film goes on. His shy teenage chemistry with Page is astounding, and helps give the film its greatest moments of heartfelt drama. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney round out the cast, lending the film some of its deeply funny and dramatic moments as Juno's parents, and relative newcomer Olivia Thirlby does very well as Juno's best friend.

But for how great the cast was, what I was really anticipating was the screenplay, by current sensation Diablo Cody. I was a little apprehensive at wanting to jump on the bandwagon of praising her, but the script is truly wonderful. While the start of the film feels a little forced with its witty and sarcastic banter, the film gradually progresses into a very fair balance of hilarity and drama. Its gradual depth does not go unnoticed, and as the film packs into its most dramatic scenes, it really becomes apparent that Cody has a great sense of how to write really well. First time screenwriters (or even screen writing hopefuls) can take notes in how well expressed the wording is here (and how obscure pop culture references can still be funny), and just how greatly written the film is. When dialogue comes so natural to some of these characters, it becomes very obvious that the writer knows what they are doing. If she keeps up like this, than I think she could truly be the prodigy that everyone is making her out to be (although Jennifer's Body really does not sound like a step in the right direction).

I think what only slows the film down is the near forced relationship between Page and Bateman that grows as the film goes on. I understand its importance to the film and understand why it is here, but I just think they play it a little too loosely and way too longish to make it feel as worthwhile as it needs to be. The two work off of each other well, yes (although not nearly as well as Page and Cera, or even Bateman and Garner), but the dialogue and scenes between them just sound like an afterthought, and do not seem in sync with the rest of the film. They have the humour, they have the references (maybe a few too many), but they just do not jive nearly as solidly as they should. Maybe a little less focus on these scenes, and more with the likes of Cera (who is not underused, but probably could have been used a bit more) or Simmons or Thrilby (who are not used nearly enough) could have helped make the movie even better than it already is.

Juno is not perfect, but it is heartwarming and bittersweet all the same. I laughed and almost got choked up by how exquisitely written and how superbly acted the film was. Page is marvellous in the lead role, and Cody just might be on the right path to be true greatness. If only all small Indies could be nearly as memorable or nearly as astonishing as this one is. An obvious candidate for being one of the best (and funniest) films of the year.

9/10.