Biography
The son of directors
Ivan Reitman (
Stripes,
Ghostbusters) and Geneviève Robert (Casual Sex?), Jason Reitman initially essayed bit and supporting on-camera roles, typically in his father's projects -- such films as
Ghostbusters (1984),
Twins (1988),
Kindergarten Cop (1990), and
Dave (1993). Reitman took his directorial bow in 2005 with the acerbic satire
Thank You for Smoking (2005), starring
Aaron Eckhart -- a freewheeling adaptation of Christopher Buckley's tome about a crafty spin doctor for the tobacco lobby. That outing netted rave reviews from critics across the country. Reitman followed it up with
Juno (2007), a comedy drama about an teenage girl (
Ellen Page) forced to grow up very quickly when she must contend with an unplanned pregnancy after a tryst with a classmate (
Michael Cera). The film opened to glowing reviews, and garnered a number of year-end accolades including a Best Director nomination by the Academy for Reitman's work on the project. At about the same time, Reitman teamed up with actor and scenarist
Rainn Wilson (
The Office) for
Bonzai Shadowhands (2008) -- a seriocomedy about a ninja (Wilson) sinking ever rapidly into a mediocre life. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide