Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Elliot Page, J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have built a legacy as strong as Allison Janney. Ever since her rise to fame during the 1990’s, Janney has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s teachers, frustrated mothers or political leaders, Janney has played countless compelling characters. Arguably, Janney’s best strength as an actress has always been her strong commitment to her craft. She is one of those rare actresses which has always had a talent for stealing the show in supporting roles which have limited screen time. Even when she isn’t the main focus of a movie, Janney has always left an impression. Through her abilities to portray characters that are compelling, Janney has built a legacy that is lasting. Throughout a strong career, Janney has made many memorable movies which are definitely worth talking about without a single doubt.
I’m a big fan of Janney and adore all the films she has made in her career. However, “Juno” is my favourite. Released in 2007, Janney’s film offered an engrossing portrait of unintended pregnancy. Packed with powerful production, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it is one of the best movies ever about pregnancy. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance by Allison Janney, who portrays a mother that attempts to resolve her daughter’s unintended pregnancy. Ultimately, what makes “Juno” a captivating classic is universal appeal. Unlike most movies about pregnancy, it tackles bold themes that everyone would relate to. A bold classic about intended pregnancy, there are several strong reasons why “Juno” is a movie worth seeing.
“Juno” tells the story of a woman that faces an unintended pregnancy causing sorrow. Elliot Page portrays Juno MacGuff, a sixteen year old high school student facing an unintended pregnancy. Juno has always held strong views against pregnancy being careful to avoid any sexual interaction with safety. However, Juno’s life forever changes when she experiences an unintended pregnancy causing disaster. Juno quietly becomes smitten with classmate Paulie (Michael Cera) causing a pregnancy dilemma. Juno’s mother Bren (Allison Janney) is a strict parent that espouses strong views against her pregnancy. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Juno begins to wonder whether it’s possible to overcome pregnancy which causes disaster. Faced with sorrow, Juno questions whether it is possible to overcome pregnancy causing life to hit a low.
Jason Reitman is a newcomer towards themes of pregnancy. Before he made “Juno”, Reitman had never made a pregnancy movie before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempts to capture lives of pregnant teenage girls experiencing a tragedy but he succeeded immensely. Using stunning cinematography, Reitman captures a pregnant teenager confronting an unintended pregnancy. Evoking Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You”, Reitman uses montages to capture hardships that pregnant teenage girls go through. For instance, montages enhance the pregnancy discoveries scene. During this unforgettable scene, Juno is shocked to find that she has become pregnant causing great tension. Through stunning montages, Reitman created a portrait of pregnancy that proves to be compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to use in most films. Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” demonstrated that montages elevate commemorated movies capturing suburban American families. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through stunning visuals, Reitman captures tensions that pregnant teenagers with frightening issues are often experiencing.
Another admirable aspect of “Juno” worthy of appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Reitman effectively uses production design to capture the lives of pregnant teenagers which decline. Throughout the film, Juno’s costumes showcase her transformation into a pregnant woman. For instance, costumes enhance the pregnancy scene. During this heartfelt scene, Juno informs her parents about her pregnancy causing adversity. Through stunning costume, Reitman created a portrait of a pregnancy that is compelling. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Thomas Newman’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that pregnant teenagers bear. Through captivating production, Reitman captures pregnant teens facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the central reasons why “Juno” is a movie about pregnancy which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the lives of pregnant teenagers facing tension. Reitman’s screenwriting strength is ability to capture tension faced by pregnant teenagers using silence. For instance, silence enhances the argument scene. During this memorable scene, Juno has a tense argument with her parents about her pregnancy which causes tension. Using sequences of silence, Reitman creates a pregnant teenager that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a complicated technique to use in movies. Stephen Daldry’s “The Hours” suggested that silence elevates films about depressed women. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a bold screenplay, Reitman captures teenagers that face a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Allison Janney delivers one of her best career performances as Bren. Janney first achieved appreciation for playing depressed women in suburban dramas. With “Juno”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a mother which seeks to confront her daughter’s pregnancy but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most iconic role. Janney the has often excelled at portraying women facing stress, and “Juno” showcased her strength as an actress. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, grief and resentment of a woman seeking to care for her daughter. It’s a bold performance from one of the finest actresses that’s working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Allison Janney, the supporting cast is also amazing and deserving of appreciation. Elliot Page is extraordinary, capturing the courage of a teenage girl facing unintended pregnancy causing damage. J.K. Simmons is spectacular, bringing authority to a father worried about the way his daughter becomes pregnant causing a price to pay. Lastly, Michael Cera is worthy of appreciation. As a teenager that falls in love with a pregnant girl, he brings hilarious comic relief to the movie.
Finally, “Juno” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing pregnant girls facing sorrow. Unlike most movies about pregnancy, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, mental health and pregnancy which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with issues of pregnancy to appreciate it. It delivers a profound message about unintended pregnancies which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Juno” is one of those rare movies about pregnancies everyone would adore.
Fans of Allison Janney would definitely enjoy “Juno” and so would movie-goers that seek heartfelt entertainment. A captivating classic about unintended pregnancy, it celebrates an actress that is iconic.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking film about conflicted teenagers that face pregnancy which is unintended, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actress that hasn’t lost her abilities to leave audiences captivating making unforgettable movies which definitely deserve to be appreciated.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 