I think it would be cool if this move was actually kick ass and that the marketing was just crappy. Female antagonists are fun and whilst not all all of them need to be naked like in say, Species, we need more of them on the screen. Go Diablo go!
A lot of time, people aren't hating on Juno/Diablo Cody because of the dialogue alone, or the success of the film. That's what we mention -- what annoys me to no end is the fact that she will not shut up for a single moment. We get it -- you wrote a movie, you're smart and charming. Guess what? Two women wrote American Psycho, but you don't seem them yapping forever. Do you know how many women have created the greatest television shows of our time? Or were on staff at wonderful shows? I appreciate her role as a woman, but her megalomania is out of control.
@IndiaPolydeuces: I think, though, that the difference is that she's a woman who wrote/writes movies about women/more female-centric. And that's what gets a lot of attention.
Its not always easy to find the hole, even as a girl who's familiar with the territory. Also if I had penny for every time I've said "wrong hole" to a guy...
Her interviews are always so charming and intelligent. And I honestly can't wait for this movie on Friday. I'm hoping for a fun, B-movie homage...and some nice subversive subtext.
Edited: Also, I'm kind over all the Juno hate. I get that some people don't like it, and I get that (like every writer and every story) people will or won't like dialog styles. But this is a different movie and it's kind of tiring to see the same stuff brought up every time. It's not even clever anymore. I'd rather talk about the -positive- things her stories, visibility, and feminism do for film. Or at the very least, more constructive discussions that lamenting about dialog quirks.
@tiredfairy: Seriously. I'm getting really tired of people ripping into people who don't seem to deserve any more ire than anybody else. I don't see people rip Kim Kardashian apart around here, for example, and she's friends with Joe Francis, who is, as we know, no friend to women. The hate makes me really sad, actually. Especially because Diablo used to occasionally comment around here. It's like when one of our own makes good, we rip them apart. I didn't think Juno was the best movie ever, either, but I don't get angry or say something nasty every time Diablo Cody gets brought up.
@jenny_dreadful: I think Juno was a really fun, refreshing, sincere, first time script. Maybe I just don't mind quirky dialog, but, aside from Rainn Wilson's character being a bit over the top...I liked the fact that Juno was pop culture aware, and snarky, and sarcastic, and quick witted. Generally the only characters that get to do that are boys.
And I liked seeing a traditionally tragic story (teen girl gets pregnant) spun in a slightly different way. But mostly I just liked seeing a lead girl character not have to be in a romantic comedy as the neurotic or the manic pixie.
I think we sometimes expect some movies to hit every issue, every theme, every idea exactly the way we want them to. And that's pretty much impossible. What I'm interested in about Cody is her point of view, which I personally find interesting, since she's working in within this sort of indie/mainstream bubble. And she's reaching wider audiences with interesting subtext, while still telling entertaining stories that appeal to the "mainstream". I'm looking forward to Jennfer's Body for that reason. A consciously feminist take on this particular kind of horror story is always interesting to me...like Gingersnaps, or Teeth, or Heathers. So...I always end up being some kind of cheerleader...but I guess it's just that I hate to see someone this intelligent and sincere getting (imho) knocked around unfairly. But it is the internet. People are entitled to feel differently than I do. :]
@tiredfairy: I hated Rainn Wilson's character, too. But overall I thought the movie was pretty good.
She's a self-proclaimed feminist making what I consider to be interesting work, particularly interesting in that it's so well-received by mainstream audiences. I think she's in a great position to mainstream more feminist viewpoints. I just don't understand the hate. Some of it is really snarky and mean spirited.
@mannequin: I really like the fact that she's doing such different genre. Between Juno, UST, and Jennifer's Body, it's actually quite a range. Especially for someone so young.
This made me think of it: it's possible the only male deflowering I've ever seen onscreen was in Biloxi Blues. It did have a certain charming awkwardness.
@tiredfairy: I always remember the sex in Fast Times at Ridgemont High for that reason, too. Amy Heckerling said in the commentary that she wanted it to be bumpy and awkward and weird, and I think it was the first really real sex I ever saw in a movie. It also mirrored my own experiences pretty accurately. The guy I first slept with wasn't even as cool as Ron Johnson, Audio Consultant. About as good at it, though.
@TheFormerJuneBronson: So, so, so true. And I think it handled the abortion issue tone of the few ways it can realistically be done in what's technically a teen comedy.
That movie is, in hindsight, one of the best teen films around.
@ides: Yeah, but, this isn't Juno. She has dialog quirks, and that's fine, they aren't going to appeal to everyone. Just like Tarantino and Pegg and most writers. Juno proved that audiences do want movies about non-stereotypical girl characters.
And really, it was successful because of the story and the character and the dialog. Because it didn't look or sound like every other movie out there.
So, like it or not, it's done some positive things.
A guy I went to high school with apparently "missed" several times with a friend of mine. I think he just could not figure it out and finally gave up. Of course this is the first thing I think of whenever I see him.
tiredfairy promoted this comment
Lizard in the Wires - synthesizer signals suspense! was starred
Lizard in the Wires - synthesizer signals suspense! was unstarred
@Lizard in the Wires is on Rails: She's saying she's included the male deflowering so that there could be a line like that since in most movies you'd think sex was this easy in kind of thing. Also, especially in horror movies, the "good" girl is generally a virgin and she's deliberately reversing that idea here. The main "good" girl has sex for pleasure, not virginity loss.
She's not saying you have to be a virgin to say that, just that she wanted that excuse in the movie for the sake of comedy. :}
@Lizard in the Wires is on Rails: How so? She told Maxim it was because they show sex as being so seamless, and it's not, so this scene was written to be awkward and more realistic.
Actually, the quote up there is misleading. In the video, she explains it. The quote skips some stuff.
@LaFemme: I'm just kind of loving the idea of A. someone acknowledging in film that sex isn't always this easy, automatic "in" and B. the "good" girl doesn't have to be a virgin.
OH MY GOD KANYE I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! THE INTERNET IS SO MUCH QUIETER WITHOUT YOU ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER GO AWAY AGAIN!!1!! LET'S BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!!!!!!! MY CAPS LOCK KEY IS LOUD, TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bet Kate and Leo have shagged. After watching them promote Revolutionary Road together, I'm pretty sure she is totally in lust/love with him and is only married to Sam Mendes for her career. And I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, btw.
Like La Lohan I have actually been burgled and been told by shocked neighbours that my flat had been ransacked. It was laundry day and I can only fit one load per time int the washer dryer. The other clothes were lying all over the kitchen floor. My bed was unmade because I had dashed to work and had not had time to tidy up. The advantage was that the burglars only bothered to take my (far from state of the art)television which they dumped by the stairs as they fled and my remote control. The later caused me grief as the buttns on the set itself only have limited functionality. ps M flat is usually very tidy. Honest!
Also, I can totally see Jon and Kate having an agreement on how many outside relationships one or both of them is allowed to have. Honestly, they're not a couple any more - they're just business partners. The kids are their employees.
09/16/09
09/16/09
09/16/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/16/09
09/16/09
Edited: Also, I'm kind over all the Juno hate. I get that some people don't like it, and I get that (like every writer and every story) people will or won't like dialog styles. But this is a different movie and it's kind of tiring to see the same stuff brought up every time. It's not even clever anymore. I'd rather talk about the -positive- things her stories, visibility, and feminism do for film. Or at the very least, more constructive discussions that lamenting about dialog quirks.
09/16/09
09/16/09
And I liked seeing a traditionally tragic story (teen girl gets pregnant) spun in a slightly different way. But mostly I just liked seeing a lead girl character not have to be in a romantic comedy as the neurotic or the manic pixie.
I think we sometimes expect some movies to hit every issue, every theme, every idea exactly the way we want them to. And that's pretty much impossible. What I'm interested in about Cody is her point of view, which I personally find interesting, since she's working in within this sort of indie/mainstream bubble. And she's reaching wider audiences with interesting subtext, while still telling entertaining stories that appeal to the "mainstream". I'm looking forward to Jennfer's Body for that reason. A consciously feminist take on this particular kind of horror story is always interesting to me...like Gingersnaps, or Teeth, or Heathers. So...I always end up being some kind of cheerleader...but I guess it's just that I hate to see someone this intelligent and sincere getting (imho) knocked around unfairly. But it is the internet. People are entitled to feel differently than I do. :]
09/16/09
She's a self-proclaimed feminist making what I consider to be interesting work, particularly interesting in that it's so well-received by mainstream audiences. I think she's in a great position to mainstream more feminist viewpoints. I just don't understand the hate. Some of it is really snarky and mean spirited.
09/16/09
09/16/09
09/16/09
09/16/09
She's right, though. Sex is always shown as this seamless thing that requires no effort. And it's just so opposite reality.
09/16/09
09/16/09
That movie is, in hindsight, one of the best teen films around.
09/16/09
Have I mentioned how little I enjoyed Juno?
09/16/09
And really, it was successful because of the story and the character and the dialog. Because it didn't look or sound like every other movie out there.
So, like it or not, it's done some positive things.
09/16/09
09/16/09
I mean I've never said that myself, just because I think it sounds kind of weird, but I'm pretty sure I'm capable of such an utterance.
09/16/09
She's not saying you have to be a virgin to say that, just that she wanted that excuse in the movie for the sake of comedy. :}
09/16/09
I suppose what I really want is the answer she would have given to Film Quarterly, not the answer she gave to Maxim, which isn't her fault.
09/16/09
Actually, the quote up there is misleading. In the video, she explains it. The quote skips some stuff.
09/16/09
09/16/09
09/16/09
05/13/09
05/13/09
05/13/09
05/13/09
ps M flat is usually very tidy. Honest!
05/13/09
Also, I can totally see Jon and Kate having an agreement on how many outside relationships one or both of them is allowed to have. Honestly, they're not a couple any more - they're just business partners. The kids are their employees.
05/13/09
05/13/09