2008 Woodie Awards
Indie film makes splash, excites Hollywood critics
Juno grosses $71M with low budget, tough competition
By: Brad Canze
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Lifeline
"Juno" has been making waves with critics, at awards shows and with audiences - Mount Pleasant moviegoers included.
"Response has been really positive," said Chris Couling, general manager at Celebration Cinemas, 4965 E. Pickard St. "We've had really good ticket sales over the past few weeks for it."
From a budget of $7.5 million, the film has gone on to gross $71 million domestically. "Alien Vs. Predator 2: Requiem," which had its wide release on Dec. 25 alongside "Juno," has a similar gross of $74 million, albeit from a budget of $40 million. "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," another Christmas release, has grossed just $30 million.
A major reason for "Juno's" success is its fresh take on the subject of teenage pregnancy.
"(Teen pregnancy) is a big deal, but it's OK to laugh," said Lowell freshman Erin Bronkella. "It maintained the seriousness, even though it was still joking around. Most people wouldn't talk about teen pregnancy that way, but I thought it was time for a movie like this to come out."
Shari Evans, of the Central Michigan Pregnancy Center, said the movie gives people insight into pregnancy issues.
Evans said the characterizations of the characters are faithful to reality because girls like Juno are real.
However, Evans insists the film does not remain true to life throughout.
"She had the baby and life went right back to normal, and that's not always reality," she said.
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts professor Kenneth Jurkiewicz, who specializes in film studies, also takes issue with the film's handling of the subject matter.
"As a parent, I don't find the subject very amusing," Jurkiewicz said. "These are very serious issues, and I think these movies ("Juno," "Knocked Up," "Waitress") tend to gloss over the innate severity of the issues involved."
North Muskegon sophomore Austin Aamodt, however, enjoyed how the film and lead actress Ellen Page handled the story.
"I thought she did a great job. It's not an easy part to play, especially being young," Aamodt said.
news@cm-life.com
"Response has been really positive," said Chris Couling, general manager at Celebration Cinemas, 4965 E. Pickard St. "We've had really good ticket sales over the past few weeks for it."
From a budget of $7.5 million, the film has gone on to gross $71 million domestically. "Alien Vs. Predator 2: Requiem," which had its wide release on Dec. 25 alongside "Juno," has a similar gross of $74 million, albeit from a budget of $40 million. "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," another Christmas release, has grossed just $30 million.
A major reason for "Juno's" success is its fresh take on the subject of teenage pregnancy.
"(Teen pregnancy) is a big deal, but it's OK to laugh," said Lowell freshman Erin Bronkella. "It maintained the seriousness, even though it was still joking around. Most people wouldn't talk about teen pregnancy that way, but I thought it was time for a movie like this to come out."
Shari Evans, of the Central Michigan Pregnancy Center, said the movie gives people insight into pregnancy issues.
Evans said the characterizations of the characters are faithful to reality because girls like Juno are real.
However, Evans insists the film does not remain true to life throughout.
"She had the baby and life went right back to normal, and that's not always reality," she said.
Broadcast and Cinematic Arts professor Kenneth Jurkiewicz, who specializes in film studies, also takes issue with the film's handling of the subject matter.
"As a parent, I don't find the subject very amusing," Jurkiewicz said. "These are very serious issues, and I think these movies ("Juno," "Knocked Up," "Waitress") tend to gloss over the innate severity of the issues involved."
North Muskegon sophomore Austin Aamodt, however, enjoyed how the film and lead actress Ellen Page handled the story.
"I thought she did a great job. It's not an easy part to play, especially being young," Aamodt said.
news@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story