Stuck between two worlds

By Dara Lehon
Published on January 31, 2008

A few weeks ago, I finally saw "Juno," a movie I'd been told was "uber-cute," "amazing" and just "soooo good." And I've become one of many Juno-obsessed. But unlike others who are doting mostly on the movie's dialogue, soundtrack and sweatbands, the movie got me pondering about who really makes a good parent. And when.

The oddly idyllic portrait of teenage pregnancy -- which began with a cartoon sketch, a hamburger phone and a big orange jug of Sunny D -- introduced a smart-ass 16-year-old Juno (Ellen Page), who makes a very grown up decision. The perpetually tomboyish, ironic, T-shirt-clad kid realizes that she is not ready to be a mom. Instead, she'll find the perfect parents to raise it.

There will be Jews at Oscar’s 80th

By Tom Tugend
Published on January 24, 2008

After some relatively lean years, Hollywood's Jewish talent made a solid showing as nominations for the 80th Academy Awards were announced Tuesday. The biggest winners were brothers Ethan and Joel Coen, whose thriller "No Country for Old Men" earned seven nominations, while Daniel Day-Lewis, son of British Jewish actress Jill Balcon, qualified in the best actor category.

Reitman follows heart to quirky ‘Juno’

By Pat Sierchio
Published on December 6, 2007

When Jason Reitman decided to become a filmmaker, he was not only following the path of his father, producer-director Ivan Reitman, but that of his heritage as well.

"I think Jewish people are great storytellers," the 30 year-old film director said. "Celebrating our heritage and our holidays has so much to do to with storytelling. We've survived so long, partly on our ability to tell stories. I love to make people laugh, and I've always had an attraction to telling stories."