Juno (2007)
★★★★
This review may contain spoilers.
Just like 500 Days of Summer this movie is like indie-indie, presenting itself as such but it works I think well here, with shots that sometimes go against the grain and lighting choices that are great.
where I think this movie shines has to be the acting and the writing, every actor is putting their all in this one, Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jk Simmons, and Allison Janney but who I think truly shines in this one is Jenifer Gardner, her acting is so subtle but nuanced in everyday the little things that she is doing help sell her character's arc and story and emotional journey.
the writing is wonderful, for about half the film I was mesmerized by how subtle the writing is, the subtext that radiates in each scene of the film like there is so much not being said but also the characters were picking up on what is not said, the characters are smart that's for sure, do they all kind of talk pretentiously for sure but it doesn't feel out of place.
I did want to note one of my favorite aspects of the writing which was the writing of the B-story (Mark and Vanessa's story) their writing is well done (I think some of my favorite in the film) it really connected with me the subtleties in the actor's lines of dialogues and how they portrayed them, the subtle details around the house it truly felt like a full story I got out of the movie.
the camera work and the lighting are pretty great, there are some truly great moments and truly wonderful shots as noted and I know that the camera and lighting here were kept simplistic here for a reason to make the movie feel even more grounded and realistic they could've gone bombastic with this camera work and lighting if they wanted to do but the choice to keep it grounded was amazing.
finally, the score is also really well done and mostly indie folk pop but the sweet melody that plays throughout the film was really well done and it comes back right at the end was great too, but more importantly, when talking about the score is what they didn't score which gave those scenes the impact that was needed and the drive to keep us watching because what we are used to hearing is the sweet melody and anytime we don't hear it we know that we are in for a ride.
notes below.
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- I like the way the title card is drawn and moves and is animated.
- I like how it starts quietly, giving us time to breathe.
- also the significance of her walking backward multiple shots show of her walking through people or backward while others walk forward -- going against the grain,
- I like the transition to the opening credits.
- I also like the animation of these credits.
- this is also how you pick license music, it fits the tone of how the movie opened up not referencing something that is happening in the scene or anything Edger Wright does it better than anyone I know.
- I love Rainn Wilson truly he is funny not from the office but from the other stuff he has made.
- I love the track that plays as she heads home.
- I love that the camera tracks sideways while they putting the chair in the car.
- go carol.
- I love how the dialogue is written in this film, there is so much left unsaid but you know it's in the subtext.
- "Can you hold on a second I'm on my hamburger phone"
- I love the narration from Juno here, there is something so intimate and personal about it.
- I love the soft humming melody of this movie.
- I like this shot of them sitting on the bench and how it is shot from behind the bench, usually, it would just be shot in front, but it's cool to see it being shot differently.
- I love the choice to not score this scene where she tells her parents that she is pregnant, the silence is so potent and amazing here.
- these establishing shots of the fancy homes juxtaposed with the car driving by were cool.
- Elliot Page's comedic timing is great. he knows how to wait for delivery.
- again so much said but so much more said in the subtext, and what sells subtext is the acting the reactions the subtle stuff.
- I like how the shots that are clear to have text on them are shot with that in mind, this shot where WINTER pops up next to the trees.
- I love winter, look at those houses covered in snow, the way the water is on the ground, and the footprints that are left, this has nothing to do with the movie I just like winter.
- I said it earlier in the notes but I love the way they scored this film, the choice to not score or to score scenes is so great.
- the scene where they are talking on the floor is great blocking as well as them deciding what color to paint the baby's room, then when they turn around.
- the way everyone is acting is great here but I would like to note how spectacularly Jenifer Gardner is doing.
- I like how Vanessa's focus shifts from Juno to Mark
- the silence that radiates, and the hold on Juno as she cries in the car are fantastic. great directing.
- I love the long wide shot as the car starts up and takes off.
- I love that each scene in this movie flows together and influences the previous one, it doesn't feel like we are checking off things on a box but we are flowing from story beat to story beat.
- I like how the story starts with Juno and we slowly get introduced to these side characters and slowly they get a story told, it shows that while predominantly in television there can be great A and B plots in movies as well.
- I like how much setup is done, Juno saw her parents break up and her mom abandoned her, Bleakly, and now Mark and Vanessa, because of her connection between Mark and Vanessa.
- I love the overblown lighting in this scene in the hospital.
- this scene where they sing is great, the slow dolly backward is amazing -- also the choice to let the whole song play as we pull out is truly great.
