Juno

During its early moments, Juno, Jason Reitman’s second feature, threatens to choke on its quotation-marks catchphrases. But after a little while, the movie calms down and finds its center — no, its heart. Indeed, once it works its way through the snark, Juno gradually evolves into a thing of beauty and grace. As the pregnant teen heroine, Ellen Page finds her way into — and past, way past — those early clever-clever lines to burrow deep into Juno’s skin until she finds her soul. First-time screenwriter Diablo Cody earned an Oscar for her script. Outdoor movie begins at dusk. (R) ROBERT WILONSKY

Wed., July 23, 2008