"You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves."

Another film that broke my heart… in a totally different way. But it did push the same maternal buttons in me; the people on this earth that have children should never forget how lucky they are, and treat their little angels accordingly. And those that don't, well, they don't deserve any blessings at all.

Detective Remy Bressant (the incredible Ed Harris): There's a guy pumping up in an apartment up in Columbia Point. . . The old lady's beat to shit, the husband's mean, cracked out. . .Rats, roaches, all over the place. But the kid's room, in the back, was spotless. No, I mean, he swept it, mopped it; it was immaculate. The little boy's sitting on the bed, holding onto his Playstation for dear life. There's no expression on his face, tears streaming down. He wants to tell me he just learned his multiplication tables. I mean, the father's got him in this crack den, subsisting on Twinkies and ass-whippings, and this little boy just wants someone to tell him that he's doing a good job. You're worried what's Catholic? I mean, kids forgive. Kids don't judge. Kids turn the other cheek. What do they get for it? . . .You gotta take a side. You molest a child, you beat a child, you're not on my side. If you see me coming, you better run, because I am gonna lay you the fuck down! Easy.

More Juno talk

In case anyone was wondering why I questioned my love for ‘JUNO’ it is because while the performances are wonderful and I love the message of the film (see previous post), I know it’s not a perfect movie. I recently discussed its (FEW!) flaws with ‘The Fink’:

Me: Did you not like Juno??? =(

Fink: I really didn't. . .I just felt it was so self-conscious and precious and everyone spoke in the same voice. My problem was mostly with the script, not the performances

Me: I thought that at first, but then I felt like it got real. Like the whole thing with Mark turning out to be a prick but Juno still wanting to give Vanessa the baby seemed more real (the note that she ended up framing KILLED ME!). I think the too-cool-for-school dialogue was just a hook to get people laughing and reel them in so they weren't put off by the mushy stuff right away. I just loved the pro-parents, pro-love, pro-adoption message.
And this bit really killed me:
“Juno MacGuff: I'm losing my faith in humanity.
Mac MacGuff: Think you can narrow it down for me?
Juno MacGuff: I guess I wonder sometimes if people ever stay together for good.
Mac MacGuff: You mean like couples?
Juno MacGuff: Yeah, like people in love. . . I just need to know if it's possible for two people to stay happy together forever, or at least for a few years.
Mac MacGuff: It's not easy, that's for sure. Now, I may not have the best track record in the world, but I have been with your stepmother for 10 years now and I'm proud to say that we're very happy. In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with.”

Fink: I can see that, but for me it had the opposite effect and I was done about 20 minutes in. Like I said, I liked the performances- I'd watch Michael Cera read a cereal box. I just didn't love it.

Me: *sigh.* ok. I'm sad, but I hear ya. OMG- did you see the promos for the movie with just Michael Cera and Jason Bateman sitting next to each other shootin' the shit? HILARIOUS!!!

Fink: They are hilarious.... I love the two of them together. Arrested Development is one of the greatest TV shows ever.

Me: YES YES YES!!! I hope the rumors about a movie are true!!!!!!!!

The ‘JUNO’ phenomenon

I’ve been talking about ‘JUNO’ a lot lately, “honest to blog.” ;) I am dragging my fiancé to it this weekend. I have told my parents they MUST see it this week. I’m quoting it on my friends’ Facebook ‘walls.’ Just visiting the official site makes me cry and I’ve YouTubed just about every interview with Page, Cody, and all the promotional bits starring Cera & Bateman. (Yes I am officially an internet whore.) I’ve even been singing the praises of Garner, who I’ve hated in every other t.v. show/movie I’ve seen her in; I don’t know if becoming a mother, working with Reitman, or just finally playing closer to her real type did the trick, but she is WONDEFUL in ‘JUNO.’ (And of course, one of the main reasons I saw the movie in the first place is because the forever fierce Allison Janney is in it.)

So why do I love this movie so much? Some who know me might be tempted to interject here that I love lots of movies. And it’s true, I do. I hope to be in more some day. And this is hardly the first time I’ve touted a film as a “must-see.” Don’t believe me? Just search my previous posts and you’ll find reviews or plugs for at least a half a dozen other films. But most films that wow me only compel me to blog and talk about them for about a day and then they slide to one of the back burners of my mind. ‘JUNO’ has not.

Not since ‘MAGNOLIA’ has a film really touched me to the point of dancing in the streets afterwards. Not in exactly the same way, mind you: the two friends of mine who were with me when I saw P.T. Anderson’s ’99 epic may remember me almost throttling a woman who dared to walk out 90 minutes in, and shouting to the NYC universe that P.T. is a prophet afterwards. After seeing ‘JUNO’ in L.A. last week, I merely called my fiancé to gush about how much I can’t wait to have children with him while jumping around the fountain at The Grove, all teary and bleary.

What these two very different films both represent to me are great examples of how I believe people should learn to treat each other, how easy it is to abuse each other instead of taking the risk of getting hurt and trusting and loving. They are also both condemnations of bad parenting and unfaithful spouses, they both hail good parents as the ultimate salvation of joy and life, and they both see the beauty and innocence of children as the most precious and valuable gift we have.
So maybe I answered my own question. Maybe I love the film so much because I am about to marry my best friend and can’t wait to have a baby of my own. In any case, again, I highly recommend it. =)

Have you seen it yet?

I'm not sure if there's ever been a film that warmed my heart, made me laugh as much as I cried, made me hope and yearn and love quite like "Juno." The writing is wonderful (yay Diablo Cody for winning the Best Screenplay Oscar!) and the cast is truly superb; not a weak performance in the bunch. If you haven't seen it yet, DO. If you already have, see it again. I sure will... =)

Please Watch Before You Vote TODAY!

I love when underdogs win... =)