The latest installment of Ghostbusters releases next Friday. I’m pumped to see it as I’m a fan of the franchise and director Jason Reitman, who helms the film. He is actually succeeding his father, who directed the first Ghostbusters film! Last week I looked at Ivan Reitman, today it’s the best of Jason Reitman! Films will appear in chronological order.
Thank You For Smoking (2005)
About: Reitman’s first feature film was a banger. An adaptation of the novel from Christopher Buckley. It centers on Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), a spokesman for big tobacco. It’s funny and clever, features a great cast and goes in ways you don’t expect. It was one of my favorites the year it was released.
Juno (2007)
About: This one came from a script by Diablo Cody and was a delightful gem about a high school student (Ellen Page) who gets pregnant and has to decide what to do. This is witty and full of heart. The cast includes Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Alison Janney and J.K. Simmons. This one earned four Oscar nominations, including for Best Director and Best Picture. It continued a hot streak of features to start for Jason Reitman.
Up In the Air (2009)
About: This is my favorite of Jason Reitman’s films. This was based on the novel of the same name by Walter Kirn, but if you’ve read the book (I have) you know it was just a loose basis. This features a beautiful performance from George Clooney with wonderful support from Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. It’s a film with humor and heart, and it was one that I dearly loved. It was nominated for six Oscars, including directing, screenplay and Best Picture, but didn’t win any. It should have. I maintain it was the best film I saw that year.
Young Adult (2011)
About: This is the first of two Reitman features with Charlize Theron in the starring role. This reunited Jason Reitman with Juno scribe Diablo Cody, but it’s a very different kind of script. This was his fourth feature, and by this point his films were pretty highly anticipated. This one has its moments but it doesn’t hit as well for me as some of his others.
Tully (2018)
About: Seven years after their first film together, Jason Reitman teamed with writer Diablo Cody for the third time and star Charlize Theron for the second time in Tully. This was a strange little comedy that didn’t get a ton of publicity and sort of flew under the radar. I didn’t catch it in theaters but saw it at home months later. When I did, I was smitten. It’s a strange story, but I love the performance from Theron and Mackenzie Davis in this one.
Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.
The Music City Drive-In 
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