"Juno's" busting out all over

One of the biggest surprises of the festival so far is Fox Searchlight’s “Juno,” Jason Reitman’s heartfelt follow-up to his debut feature “Thank You for Smoking.” That movie did so well that “Juno” was superstitiously presented at the exact same place and time as “Smoking” screened, only two years later. The movie, which follows a teenage girl played by Ellen Page as she accidentally gets pregnant, deftly navigates a line between laughs and drama. While nothing like Fox Searchlight’s sensation of last year, “Little Miss Sunshine,” the movie is emotionally similar, and it’s nothing like the other high-profile Oscar-bait movies that have so far been showing here such as“No Country for Old Men,” “Michael Clayton” and “Into the Wild.” With one of the most original scripts of the year, watch for screenwriter Diablo Cody’s stock to rise. Don’t be surprised for an Oscar campaign for Ellen Page and maybe for some of the supporting cast like Allison Janney. Even the music, by Kimya Dawson, stands out. The movie also has classic Michael Cera, and should hopefully benefit from his turning into a star off of “Superbad.” Cera has turned into one of the most unlikely sex objects in ages, and at the Fox Searchlight party in Toronto’s cool Distillery District, he was never alone for too long.

The Oscar buzz campaign began right after the screening, when the cast was on stage for a Q&A, even if it came from a biased questioner. “I wonder if you’ve written your acceptance speech for the Oscars,” asked one gentleman of Reitman, pictured. Reitman shook his head, embarrassed, laughing as he said, “George Dubiecki, the father of my producing partner Dan Dubiecki, ladies and gentlemen.” (Borys Kit)

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[The Dude]

"JUNO Deluxe 2-CD Soundtrack.
Includes #1 Soundtrack PLUS the JUNO B-Sides!
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