Don Jon

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Don Jon.

Written and Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Review #231

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity, language and some drug use.

Run Time: 90 min

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Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt...Jon

Scarlett Johansson...Barbara

Julianne Moore...Esther

Tony Danza...Jon Sr.

Glenne Headly...Angela

Brie Larson...Monica

Rob Brown...Bobby

Jeremy Luke...Danny

Paul Ben-Victor...Priest 

Josesph Gordon-Levitt is on quite a roll lately. After some roles in pretty big films, playing Abraham Lincoln's son in Speilberg's masterpiece and of course "Robin" in The Dark Knight Rises. He's taking a stab at both behind and in front of the camera writing, starring and directing his first feature Don Jon. A major undertaking for any film maker let alone a rookie, but if anyone could pull off the Hollywood hat trick.

It's Gordon-Leavitt.
Plot

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

Don Jon is a pretty good movie. It's not groundbreaking by any means but it definitely stands out as Gordon-Leavitt's brain child. From the first frame to the end credits you can tell that Don Jon has a plan for how the story is told and it's executed rather well. Jon spends his days working out, cleaning his place, hanging out with his boys and hooking up with girls. It's all routine with him and for first time directors it may play out too repetitive. However, Gordon-Levitt does a good job taking that feeling away. How he did it was pretty simple yet sophisticated enough to show off his story telling ability. He also got great performances from his cast.

Tony Danza was hysterical as Jon's dad and you can tell by watching that he and Gordon-Levitt have good chemistry and a solid personal bond. They worked together back in 1994 in the film Angels in the Outfield. Both of them were considerably younger so it was a treat to see them back together acting in much different roles and subject matter. The rest of the cast was good highlighted by Scarlett Johansson as Barbara.

She played her role as the Italian princess perfectly. She had just enough sexy and street to play along side Gordon-Levitt. The film begins to take shape after he's hooked up with Barbara and as their relationship grows, the film grows with it. It's here you get the full effect of what Gordon-Levitt was trying to do with the story. Don Jon is by all accounts a love story and how people experience love. Jon doesn't have the capacity to love like you and I do. He finds that satisfaction from watching internet porn. It's only when he comes across Esther does he find the way to connect emotionally.

It's here where the film shines. Esther teaches Jon the differences between love and sex and how each of them can be used to benefit someone's life. The knowledge dropped on him plays a key role in Jon's development as a man and one scene rings out that thought. Every Sunday he goes to church and confesses his sins which in every scene are the same. However one confession his penance is less than the previous ones so he thinks he's turned a corner. He goes back to confess and when his penance is back to what it used to be he questions the priest. He wonders if there's points for doing better. The priest just drones on realizing that Jon is abusing the faith and the concept of confession. It's a clever way to show the tone and shift the film goes through from time to time.

Once his connection to Esther is made, the film concludes and Jon finally comes to grips with who he is and what his life can actually be like. The only thing I wished happened was Jon being tougher with Barbara after their break up. He has a chance to break her down and it would be deserved but instead he takes a form of the high road and it was unfortunate. I was really looking forward to seeing that moment and it never happened.

Bottom line is Don Jon is a good movie and a great debut for Joseph Gordon-Levitt as writer and director. If he keeps this up, the future will be brighter for a star that is already shining pretty brightly.

On the 5 star scale. Don Jon gets 3 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"