Don Jon

Do you feel that pornography is superior to actual sex but have never been able to adequately articulate your argument?  Then I have a film for you!  It's called Don Jon and it's written by, directed by and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

This is a movie about a young man's porn addiction and the impossible expectations from women that it creates in him.  Through relationships with a couple of vastly different women, he has a moment of clarity and becomes a better man.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a great job on his directorial debut.  His script is smart and funny.  The film seems very assured for a first-timer.  I would even say that Gordon-Levitt has a wonderful eye for montages.  The best scenes (both in scripting and directing) are his weekly visits to the confessional.  These serve as extra, comical benchmarks for his character's arc.

This is definitely a movie wherein the cast must be talked about.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jon is solid as always, although his Jersey accent is a bit on the comical side.  Tony Danza is amazing as his temperamental father.  Glenne Headly steals every scene she's in as Jon's mother.  Brie Larson (whose having an amazing year with well-received parts in Short Term 12 and The Spectacular Now) makes continuous mute texting feel like a great performance.  But the real stars are Scarlet Johansson and Julianne Moore.  Johansson gets to play as sex kitten, sweetheart, and manipulative bitch.  And she kills it.  Moore brings a much needed weight to her role.  What could've been an awkward role with dialogue that over explains the movie's themes becomes a hypnotic role of a sweet, awkward, and broken woman.  The whole cast is stellar.

Don Jon talks a good hard look at the way that men view women especially in the context of pornography.  It also has takes a tangential look at the ridiculous expectations that women have for men and compares romantic-comedies to pornography.  Basically, both sexes have crafted exceedingly selfish ideals for their partners.  The movie takes a long time to get to the point but when it does, the message is not rushed nor does it beat you over the head.  And the ending is incredibly sweet.

Don Jon is an excellent movie that any grown up should see.  It's especially poignant for people in their 20s and 30s who've sexually matured in a culture of instant porn.  That said, it's not a movie for everyone.  There's a lot of nudity (mostly clips of internet porn) and the subject matter is constantly and brazenly sexual.  I know that kinda thing makes some people uncomfortable regardless of the quality of the storytelling.  But if you're in for the tale of a man who learns that sometimes actual sex is better than masturbating to pornography, you will be greatly rewarded.

7.5 out of 10