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.
Reitman's third feature, the comedy/drama Up in the Air starrring George Clooney, again earned glowing reviews, garnering Best Director and Best Screenplay nominations from both the Hollywood Foreign Press (where he won the Screenplay award) and the Academy, with nods from the Writers Guild and the Directors Guild as well. Reviews for Reitman's fourth film Young Adult (which found the director re-teaming with Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody), were a bit more mixed, and though the film wasn't bestowed any major awards, viewers capable of embracing its off-kilter tone were treated to a surprisingly mature drama about a disturbingly immature woman.
