Find The MacGuffin
Posted on | May 19, 2008 at 9:53 pm | 5 Comments
I’m slowly working my way through the 2007 Best Picture nominees. Last week, N and I watched the Blu-Ray disc of No Country For Old Men, and this weekend it was the Blu-Ray of Juno (or, as I like to call it: Gilmore Girls: The Movie). I love that NetFlix rents Blu-Rays, BTW.
In the comments to my review of No Country For Old Men, InfK remarked, “You gotta grade on a curve – what else deserved to win in 2007? Juno? Give me a break…”
Well… yeah. I think it deserved to win more than No Country. But comedies don’t get much love from the Academy. It was an interesting and (dare I say it) heartwarming story, concisely told, with characters you cared about and dialog that was actually interesting and funny to listen to. Yeah, at times it seemed a bit too pleased with itself, but that was part of the charm. Maybe it didn’t deserve to win Best Picture, but it did earn that Best Screenplay Oscar for Diablo Cody.
I don’t know what I can say about it that wasn’t already said better by Sue in her review. Yes, that perceptual shift that the viewer undergoes toward the characters of Vanessa and Mark is a key component of what makes the movie so watchable, and even if it does feel a bit manipulative (and maybe even predictable), it’s still well done and a credit to the acting talents of Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. (Hmmm, “acting talents of Jennifer Garner”… I’m not sure that’s something I ever thought I would write.) I must also single out J.K Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson from the Spider-Man movies), who can do wrong and who continues his streak here as Juno’s understanding but concerned father. No matter how long he’s on screen, you always want to see more of him, but maybe that’s his style… always leave ‘em wanting more. Do your job and get out without overstaying your welcome. Still, I wonder what he could do as the lead of a film. And of course Ellen Page is the one to watch. It seems like she’s making pretty smart choices in her career, so I’m going to enjoy watching that career unfold. Thinking about Hard Candy still gives me nightmares. Michael Cera is good in anything he does, but I long to see him in a tough guy role – wouldn’t that be something?
So… Juno 1, No Country 0. Next up in the NetFlix queue is Michael Clayton. Will George Clooney don the be-nippled Batman suit again and save the day?
Latre.
Pet Peeve of the Day: Workers working on the house next door blocking off part of my driveway!
Poignant Search Term Of The Day That Led To This Blog: “my therapist wants me to do new age stuff”.
Comments
5 Responses to “Find The MacGuffin”
May 19th, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
My problem with “Juno” is how they spent the whole movie setting up what a lousy mother the yuppie woman would be, and then she ends up with the baby. Perhaps the scene where she displayed a redeeming characteristic was deleted from our copy.
I also didn’t change my perception of Bateman’s character over the course of the movie, but then after seeing him on Letterman I can’t take him seriously in anything – comedy or no.
I hope you don’t like “Michael Clayton” ‘cos I had a chance to watch it on the plane and didn’t, assuming I wouldn’t be missing anything out of the usual.
May 20th, 2008 @ 11:21 am
My problem with “Juno” is how they spent the whole movie setting up what a lousy mother the yuppie woman would be
I think you saw a different movie than I did. The “whole movie”? That’s an exaggeration, as there weren’t that many scenes with that character in the first place. And on the contrary, they spent time showing she’d be a good mother – her only apparent problem was that she was reserved and a perfectionist (and had an immature husband).
Perhaps the scene where she displayed a redeeming characteristic was deleted from our copy.
Perhaps. Did your copy have the scene at the mall where she was playing with her friend’s kid?
May 20th, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
An “exaggeration”?? That’s the most outrageous thing I ever heard in my entire life.
OK, but my viewpoint remains – they clearly established she was uptight, controlling and uptight. The mere fact that she was able to smile on occasion notwithstanding, the world doesn’t need children raised by parents like that.
And the Janeane Garofalo schtick has been done to death – by Janeane herself actually, if not before.
That said, getting more or less your first piece of writing made into a movie which ends up nominated for an Oscar is pretty impressive. An honor she shares with Slyvester Stallone, actually.
May 20th, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
they clearly established she was uptight, controlling and uptight
Except when she was around kids.
Besides, practically the only time she was shown was around Juno, when she was trying to deal with an awkward situation. I think she also sensed her marriage was deteriorating, and that added to her seeming discomfort and rigid stance.
The mere fact that she was able to smile on occasion notwithstanding, the world doesn’t need children raised by parents like that.
Well then who’s going to raise our next batch of child stars?
May 21st, 2008 @ 3:32 am
> Well then who’s going to raise our next batch of child stars?
Wii, PS3 and/or XBox.