Reitman Enraged – Genie Awards ignores ‘Juno’
Though has been nominated and won many prestigious awards, the drama comedy “Juno” was left out at the 28th Annual Genie Awards’ nominations. The ineligible reportedly made the film’s director Jason Reitman to be extremely upset towards the people behind the awards claimed to be the Canadian Oscar.
According to press release, the director was reportedly enraged with the reason given for the ruling out of his film. Reportedly, though the Ellen Page-starring film features Canadian theps, it wasn’t considered for the nods because it wasn’t financed by Canadian dollars.
Agitated Reitman said:
“How are we not eligible for a Genie when David Cronenberg’s film about Russians living in London, shot in England with a British crew and British cast, is eligible? I’m sorry, but somebody is going to have to explain that to me; I don’t get it.”
So far, the Fox Searchlight Pictures’ film has been awarded with best picture prizes at the 2nd Rome Film Festival and the 23rd Independent Spirit Awards. It was also given Chairman’s Vanguard Award at the 19th annual Palm Springs Film Festival. The film has also brought many recognition to its scribbler Diablo Cody, including 2008 Oscar and 2008 WGA Awards for Best Original Screenplay.
Oscar for Original Screenplay to ‘Juno’
‘Juno’ continued its winning streak by nailing the Best Original Screenplay at the 80th Annual Academy Awards.
At the special event for the film industry, the film’s scribbler Diablo Cody received the golden man statue for her original work.
On getting the award, Cody said that she dedicates the award to the other nominees.
She also thanked the film’s production team, star Ellen Page, director Jason Reitman, and her family.
Additionally, the Jason Reitman-directed film nabbed the original prize beating out strong contenders, “Lars and the Real Girl”, “Michael Clayton”, “Ratatouille” and “The Savages”.
Ellen Page Signs On For ‘Drag Me to Hell’
Sam Raimi has directed a couple of horror movies in the past such as Evil Dead 1 and 2, The Gift and Army Of Darkness and now he is set to direct Drag Me to Hell. Raimi will be returning to the horror genre after spending the last few years directing a small trilogy known as Spiderman. Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page has joined to lead the cast, according to Variety. Ellen has recently stared in Juno and played Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) in X-Men 3.
The film is described as ‘a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse’, which I am guessing is Ellen Page. To see Ellen in a horror movie is going to be interesting. We know she can do comedy, drama and action but we haven’t seen that lovely face of hers shriek in fear, and who else better to do that with than Sam Raimi?
Filming will begin in Los Angeles in March.
Juno: Movie Review
From a first impression, it would seem that all the ingredients are in place for “Juno” – the story of a high school junior who finds herself pregnant – to become the breakout indie hit of 2007. The new-on-the-scene screenwriter with an ear for ultra-snappy, ironic dialogue (Diablo Cody, already garnering comparisons to Tarantino), the super-hip, obligatory-since-“Garden State” indie soundtrack (courtesy of Matt Messina, The Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson) and a bevy of quirkily dysfunctional characters. Of course, we’ve seen those parts not amount to a satisfying whole before (oh Wes Anderson, we hardly knew ye). But in this case, it turns out those first impressions are dead-on. “Juno” is all that and more – a wonderful film with heart, humor and, yes, a great soundtrack.
Directed with a welcome ease by Jason Reitman, who with “Juno” emerges fully from dad Ivan’s shadow, the film opens with the titular 16-year-old administering several home pregnancy tests, all with the same outcome: positive. The father? None other than the king (or is it court jester) of awkward comedy Michael Cera, who plays Juno’s partner in sexual awakening Bleeker (don’t ask about the character’s names – Juno’s little sister is called Liberty Bell). Juno and Bleeker handle the news with a real, understated grace. They’re kids; they think they can handle anything. After a brief flirtation with abortion, Juno opts for the other A-word and finds what she considers to be perfect adoptive parents (played to yuppie perfection by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) in the local Pennysaver. All this before she even informs her parents. When she finally does, it’s done almost as a business meeting – Juno wouldn’t want a big show of tears. Her family isn’t unloving, nor is it smothering. It’s just … normal. Father Mac (J.K. Simmons, given a fine, meaty role), is an air conditioner repairman who loves his daughter as best he can. Step-mom and dog-lover Bren (Allison Janney, always a pleasure) steers happily clear of the evil stepmother role in none-to-subtle ways.
As Juno, Ellen Page proves that her fine work in the borderline-exploitative pedophile-torturefest “Hard Candy” was no fluke. At a mere 20, this young actress can carry a film with uncommon, unaffected sincerity, even when the script calls for her to be impossibly, unbelievably, at-times annoyingly precocious (Juno is fluent in all things pop culture – from the Stooges to Dario Argento). Ms. Cody’s zippy script has a parlance all its own (characters are prone to terms like “wizard” and “honest to blog”) which Ms. Page wears like an old shoe. The script is also uncommonly generous to its cast; there’s not a bad role (or performance) in the bunch.
Box Office: No Saturday Miracle Surge For The Golden Compass
There was no Saturday miracle surge for New Line. The Golden Compass, an effects-laden family film starring Nicole Kidman with a reported budget of $200M, received a modest 16% increase from its opening day, posting an estimated $10.2M on Saturday. Assuming a Sunday drop of 33%, Compass will finish its opening weekend with a disastrous $25.84M. (For a comparison to other big budget, family-oriented films in this mold along with details about New Line’s dismal 2007 and Nicole Kidman’s box office cold streak, scroll down to my Friday Night report.)
Disney’s Enchanted blew past $80M domestic with a $4.9M Saturday, and the live action/animation hybrid with a sure-fire Oscar nomination for Amy Adams will cruise to an estimated $10.98M. This Christmas (Sony), Fred Claus (Warner Bros) and Beowulf (Dreamworks/Paramount) have finished 3-4-5 on Saturday and for the 3-day frame.
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Juno (Fox Searchlight) enjoyed only a 2% increase from its meteoric Friday, grabbing a Saturday PTA of just over $18,000. The spectacularly-reviewed ensemble comedy will finish the weekend a PTA of just over $52,000, giving it one of the All-Time Top 50 opening weekend PTAs. This bodes very well for Searchlight’s upcoming expansion, and the commercial success can only help Oscar pushes for Ellen Page – Best Actress, Jennifer Garner – Best Supporting Actress, Diablo Cody – Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.
Will Juno Fit In With Ferris Bueller, Jeff Spicoli, Other Memorable Movie Teens?
In movies, teenagers are smooth-talking schemers with zit-free faces, navigating high school hallways with no problem that can’t be solved by the third act. In real life, landmines both droll (wedgies) and distressing (pregnancy) lie in wait, and decisions impact lives long after the end credits of senior year.
Together, “Thank You for Smoking” director Jason Reitman and red-hot screenwriter Diablo Cody set out last year to bridge the gap. The result is “Juno” — a teen-pregnancy comedy/drama starring Michael Cera, Ellen Page, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner — which is currently enjoying more buzz than a beehive soaked in Red Bull.
“I’m trying to enjoy it,” laughed Reitman, who benefited from similar momentum when “Smoking” began screening for Hollywood insiders weeks before release. “It’s very hard to make a movie; it takes a long time. Part of the reason you make a movie is so that you can go watch the movie with an audience, and laugh, and hopefully move people. So, the fact that people are talking about it is wonderful.” Continue Reading…
