GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Juno” — Theme

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2007 movie Juno [written by Diablo Cody]. It won an Academy Award and a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay.

You may download a February 6, 2007 PDF of the script here.

Today we discuss the script’s themes. There are several of them. Which ones do you see at work in the story?

By the way, I will posting a transcript of last night’s Tweet-Cast on Saturday.

Here is a little bit of business with Diablo Cody and Ellen Page about comedy in odd places:

For Day 1 of our analysis, go here.

For Day 2 of our analysis focusing on structure, go here.

For Day 3 of our analysis focusing on characters, go here.

See you in comments to discuss Juno.

For all of the other screenplays and commentary in the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series, go here.

NOTE: THE USE OF THESE SCREENPLAYS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

UPDATE: Jeremy posted this quote from the LAT with Juno director Jason Reitman:

“Contemplating his film’s [“Juno”] out-of-left field success, [director Jason] Reitman said, ‘Right now, there is a lot of really rough dramatic films that deal with things we don’t know much about. Most of us haven’t gone to war in Iraq, but most of us are in a family. Most of us understand about growing up. We live in a time where 16-year-old girls grow up too fast and 35-year-old guys don’t grow up at all. [Screenwriter] Diablo [Cody] portrayed three generations perfectly, and there is something to relate to no matter who you are.””

So growing up is clearly a central theme. Reitman’s line about 16-year-old girls and 35-year-old guys tracks with the idea of what we’ve been discussing as Juno’s psychological journey, and the role Mark (Dark Attractor) plays as part of the process. Thanks, Jeremy, for the quote!

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