Joseph Gordon-Levitt debuts his (and hitRECord’s) first film Don Jon next Friday, and it has everything a young adult is looking for. Rampant in sexual intercourse, crude humor, and empathetic heartache, it’s pretty fantastic for an independent first film. Levitt does well to layer Don Jon with both slapstick scenarios and realistic expectations to the point where neither feel overdone. You’re not leaving the theater thinking the jokes are cheap; the only thing you’re really hoping for is a sequel. Or at least a continuation.
The film Don Jon follows the life of the ‘Don’ Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), nicknamed for his skill of getting tremendously attractive women to go to bed with him. He keeps his friends, family and car close, attends catholic church regularly, recites his Hail Mary’s more than the average human being (for reasons that will become much more apparent throughout the film), and makes the mistake of falling head over heels for Barbara, the ultimate ‘dime.’ And he watches porn. A lot of porn. More porn than I’ve ever heard a person can muster (excluding Michael Fassbender’s character in Shame, of course).
Via: aceshowbiz.com
One might assume that his addiction leads to disaster and blatant moral honesty for the audience. You are right in assuming this. However, Levitt does well not to fester in seeking righteousness within the characters, or dwelling on their sinful compass (note that Barbara has skeletons in her closet too), but instead lightheartedly reminds his viewers that, in the real world, addictions are triggered from something. And that something doesn’t inherently make us bad people. It makes us real people; characters that can transcend a film about porn and sex and jokes. Esther (Julianne Moore) is brought in for this very reason, as she guides Don Jon out of his fidelities and into something much more tangible. Don Jon’s sister Monica (Brie Larson) aids as well, and both do well in putting Don Jon out of his comfort zone. By asking himself why he loves what he loves, the audience is invited to reflect on their own personal lifestyles (pornographic tendencies aside, maybe). Without this the film might’ve not had legs.
The film does have its flaws, though they are minute. It feels like a first-timer film, with camera angles repeating a little too often and punch lines being cut way too quickly. The background of certain characters doesn’t seem to align with their personalities (I’m referring to Barbara, but maybe I’m not too familiar with Brooklynites) and certain scenes are completely useless to the story arch. But the film does have wit, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes certain to not fall into tripe female stereotypes. The women of this film are rich in their differences; where one falters another shines. And (like real life) some characters remain stagnant in their ways. Which is more than okay, not all of us end up embracing what we really want out of life like Don Jon. Everyone who watches this film, however, will walk away with something.
Photo courtesy of: AceShowBiz
