Believe it or not, Joan Didion was not my only literary hero I got to meet this past week! Although worlds away from Didion in terms of content and style, Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”) is another female writer who just slays me — what is it with all these rad female writers, man? — and, as luck would have it, we got to meet her last night at a post-screening Q&A for her new film “Young Adult”.
If you haven’t heard of the movie yet, you will, because it’s got Oscar bait written all over it. Reteaming with “Juno” director Jason Reitman, Cody’s script is about a delusional, mildly-crazy author of Young Adult fiction — played beautifully by Charlize Theron — who returns to her hometown to snatch back the high school sweetheart she left behind. I know that doesn’t sound like the most original premise, but, trust me, this movie rocks.
It’s funny, dark, twisted, and almost painfully realistic at times and Theron gives what might just be the performance of her career. Love her or hate her, Theron’s hilarious, deeply-flawed character is one for the ages. Just a really classically-great film character. Rock on, Miss Cody!
Later, while asking her to sign my copy of the “Juno” screenplay, I told Cody that the movie reminded me of a female “Wonder Boys” (which is another crazy writer movie that I love!) and she laughed and said she totally agreed. So, if you dig crazy writer movies or even just crazy people movies, you should check this shit out when it opens near you.
And until it does, here’s the trailer to get you all charged up. Enjoy!
Stay-at-home-Yeti 