Don Jon
Deplorable sex crazed men have been the centre of attention for a while. In fact, I can reel off a whole list of addicts who have adorned our cinema screens for the past year or so. For example, Don Hemmingway, Filth (the temptation not to talk about that one) and many more have come in this haze of attempts to understand what creates an obsessive man. Don Jon was a film I unfortunately missed when it made the circuits the end of last year and the beginning of this one, which is a shame because it is actually a charming independent from the mind of Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Don Jon focuses on the New Jersey habitant of the titular namesake. He is a muscle bound, porn addicted bar tender who picks up and drops girls just as quickly. However, he finds things a lot more stimulating when he watches porn. So much so that when the perfect “dime” comes along, in the form of Scarlett Johansson’s Barbara, he cannot spend more than a few days without choking the chicken. When Barbra bans him from watch it, he finds it just a little bit more difficult especially when his night school classmate Esther finds out too. Can Jon stay away from double clicking that mouse?
For a first time script, Gordon Levitt’s writing is beyond exquisite. What may look like a comedy about sex addicts becomes this interesting and complex plot about how porn can numb yearning for human interaction. Levitt cleverly enthuses the piece with repetition and this narration, explaining in a colourful and enticing way how logging into this excessive pornographic world can corrupt real sex. Balancing the comedy with the drama, Levitt sublimely makes a realistic annotation to this hyper sexualised world. Though it may not hit as coldly as films such as Shame do, Levitt intellectually levels this human against love, porn and religion, commenting on all three with flare and gusto.
Despite the accent tiring in the narration, Gordon Levitt and the team have produced some of the most excellent acting that enthuses their importance in the world of Hollywood. Levitt is believably likeable and annoying, a character you want to slap around the face and yet you follow earnestly his journey. Scarlett Johansson is head spinning and delightful as Barbra and ensures her stand point in But it’s Julianne Moore who spellbinds here. Her turn as Ester, a broken and fiercely smart woman, really provides the emotional yet rational friend that Jon needs and she is astonishing here.
Don Jon is more than an impressive effort from Levitt and his work here solidifies what we all know; that the man is superbly talented. It’s witty but with this powerful undertone to it. It captures our hyper world and mixes it with truths beneath it. The end is beautiful, an elegant and wonderful end for our characters. Although, by this film, I can firmly say that it isn’t entirely fair that Joseph Gordon Levitt can act, write, direct and lip sync to Nicki Minaij.