Juno and Once

I saw Juno in the theaters a few days ago. Before going I heard a review that described the snappy dialogue as unrealistic and annoying. But you know I found it refreshing and enjoyable. Ellen Page, who plays Juno, is adorable and precocious. She is an extremely smart 16 year old who fools people into thinking that she is more mature than she actually is and then in the end we see her as a vulnerable kid. Besides the very funny lines of Juno I really enjoyed her regular girl interests -- she has a hamburger phone and wears grungy jeans with a flannel shirt. She reminds of my friends as a girl -- she's not a girly girl.

I also saw Once which I probably had unrealistic expectations of and found it not as compelling at first as I thought it would be but then by the end really appreciated the understated performances. These two musicians really acted like real people; they responded to embarrassing or sad situations like real people and they really seemed infatuated with each other. By the end, I compared Once to Juno and found it "realer" but maybe not as fun and seductive.

Trying it out, Once

I've read several reviews for the movie Once and really hoped I would get a chance to see it in the theaters. A. O. Scott of The New York Times describes it as, "realistic rather than fanciful, and the characters work patiently on the songs rather than bursting spontaneously into them. But its low-key affect and decidedly human scale endow “Once” with an easy, lovable charm that a flashier production could never have achieved. The formula is simple: two people, a few instruments, 88 minutes and not a single false note. " While perusing my local newspaper I was amazed to find Once showing in our neighboring town, an even-less sophisticated one than my own. I planned to see it yesterday but made sure to check on line to be sure it was still showing. I drove over the bridge, ready with microwave popcorn (less calories) and my favorite orange pop. I found the theater and was even 10 minutes early. "One for Once, please," I exclaimed. "Uh, oh yeah, that ain't showin' here no more." What? Well, I guess the paper got it wrong and the one week only showing of Once was only showing once. I drove home, dejected.