This rant is mostly for my own benefit.
I'm really really really fucking sick of people criticizing Juno for having a pro-life theme! Not everyone who decides to not get an abortion is against abortion or birth control. I've been trying to figure this out, and the elements of the film that I see that could bolster that argument are
1) She doesn't get an abortion and
2) Everything works out
First of all, she wasn't anti-abortion, she went to the clinic and found that it wasn't for her. How could that ever be a bad thing? She made a brave choice. As far as everything working out, the most important thing to remember is ITS A FUCKING COMEDY MOVIE. Of course its all going to work out (even though it didn't actually; Jason Bateman turned out to be kind of a tool. Plus, I really liked the part where they show Juno crying in the hospital room. I would've been upset if they had made her all like, "oh, that was interesting part of my life, moving on!")
I find the film's message disctinctly feminist, or at least, it aligns well with my brand of feminism. Juno knew that society would judge her for being pregnant, for choosing to stay pregnant, even though it would make her life harder. She said "fuck you" to society and did what she felt was right. I feel like part of the reason some people get abortions is because our society is geared to make pregnancy and motherhood a liability and an inconvenience. Lots of jobs do not provide a maternity leave. Affording daily childcare is tough, and supporting a family on one income is tougher.
I really really like this movie. I feel like it is more complex than people give it credit for, and I'm really sick of people washing it out with simple tirades like "It's pro-life (which automatically makes it stupid and antifeminist and narrow-minded! OF COURSE!)" or "It's so unbelievable! Nobody talks like that!"
le sigh
In other, less angry news, I really want to see funny games. I hope it comes to the drafthouse.
I'm really really really fucking sick of people criticizing Juno for having a pro-life theme! Not everyone who decides to not get an abortion is against abortion or birth control. I've been trying to figure this out, and the elements of the film that I see that could bolster that argument are
1) She doesn't get an abortion and
2) Everything works out
First of all, she wasn't anti-abortion, she went to the clinic and found that it wasn't for her. How could that ever be a bad thing? She made a brave choice. As far as everything working out, the most important thing to remember is ITS A FUCKING COMEDY MOVIE. Of course its all going to work out (even though it didn't actually; Jason Bateman turned out to be kind of a tool. Plus, I really liked the part where they show Juno crying in the hospital room. I would've been upset if they had made her all like, "oh, that was interesting part of my life, moving on!")
I find the film's message disctinctly feminist, or at least, it aligns well with my brand of feminism. Juno knew that society would judge her for being pregnant, for choosing to stay pregnant, even though it would make her life harder. She said "fuck you" to society and did what she felt was right. I feel like part of the reason some people get abortions is because our society is geared to make pregnancy and motherhood a liability and an inconvenience. Lots of jobs do not provide a maternity leave. Affording daily childcare is tough, and supporting a family on one income is tougher.
I really really like this movie. I feel like it is more complex than people give it credit for, and I'm really sick of people washing it out with simple tirades like "It's pro-life (which automatically makes it stupid and antifeminist and narrow-minded! OF COURSE!)" or "It's so unbelievable! Nobody talks like that!"
le sigh
In other, less angry news, I really want to see funny games. I hope it comes to the drafthouse.