US/Canada/Hungary (2007): Comedy/Drama
Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a confidently frank teenage girl who calls the shots with a nonchalant cool and an effortless attitude as she journeys through an emotional nine-month adventure into adulthood. Quick witted and distinctively unique, Juno walks Dancing Elk High's halls to her own tune - preferably anything by The Stooges - but underneath her tough no-nonsense exterior is just a teenage girl trying to figure it all out.
While most girls at Dancing Elk are updating their MySpace page or shopping at the mall, Juno is a whip-smart Minnesota teen living by her own rules. A typically boring afternoon becomes anything but when Juno decides to have sex with the charmingly unassuming Bleeker (Michael Cera). Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she and best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) hatch a plan to find Juno's unborn baby the perfect set of parents courtesy of the local Penny Saver. They set their sights on Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), an affluent suburban couple who are longing to adopt their first child. Luckily, Juno has the support of her dad and stepmother (J.K.Simmons and Allison Janney). After the initial shock that their daughter has been sexually active with the unlikely "virile" Bleeker, the family bands together to help Juno.
While fall becomes winter and winter turns to spring, Juno moves closer and closer to her due date. Her physical changes mirror her personal growth while the veneer of Mark and Vanessa's idyllic life starts to show signs of cracking. With a fearless intellect far removed from the usual teen angst, Juno conquers her problems head-on, displaying a youthful exuberance both smart and unexpected.
Written for the screen by Diablo Cody; directed by Jason Reitman; produced by Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Mason Novick and Russell Smith; executive produced by Joseph Drake, Daniel Dubiecki and Nathan Kahane. (Dancing Elk Pictures / Fox Searchlight - Web site)
4 nominations, 1 Award
· Best Achievement in Writing - Original Screenplay 2007: Diablo Cody
· Best Picture of the Year 2007: (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production; Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith - Producers
· Leading Actress 2007: Ellen Page
· Achievement in Directing 2007: Jason Reitman