Don Jon
2/4
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johannson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly
Rated R for Strong Graphic Sexual Material and Dialogue Throughout, Nudity, Language and Some Drug Use
There is a difference between fantasy and reality. We all know this.
...or do we?
When we watch a movie like "Titanic," "There's Something About Mary," or any other romance, we fall in love with the characters and want them to be together until the end of time. When we watch pornography, we imagine ourselves having sex with the beautiful woman (or man) we see. They're both fantasies. It's unlikely that Ted and Mary will go through life without a single fight (if they even get married) and there's no chance in hell that an average guy sitting at his computer will get with the gorgeous babe or stud he sees on the internet. Still, they allow us to believe that it's possible.
The problem is when we start believing that these fantasies are real. For the two lead characters in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's writing and directing debut, "Don Jon," this is their flaw. Jon (Gordon-Levitt) prefers pornography over real sex (although he has no trouble finding gorgeous women to take home) because there's not bullshit attached. Some girls may not be willing or skilled enough to do the things that he wants. With pornography, he can find videos and images of anything that excites him. Barbara (Johannson), on the other hand, believes that "true love" means the "perfect" guy. She loves Jon, but there are things about him (the fact that he watches porn and that he doesn't have a college degree) that she doesn't like, so she sets out to mold him to her liking.
As they are right now, neither one of them is going to find what they're looking for. As Jon's classmate Esther (Moore) points out, they have to learn to accept each other as they are in order to have a real connection. They have to open themselves to each other. Only then will they experience "making love" as opposed to "just sex."
For his debut behind the camera, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has chosen two of the best actresses working today to co-star with him. Neither actress has ever played a part like this. Johannson has played the object of a man's affection ("Match Point," "Lost in Translation"), but never has she been this sexual. Johannson doesn't take her top off (well, she does, but it's from behind and in the dark) but that doesn't mean she doesn't throw herself into the role. There are more than a few sex scenes with her and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But far more impressive is how she deep she becomes buried into the character. Barbara is a sexpot, yes, but she's also stubborn, has a heavy Boston accent, and a perfectionist. Julianne Moore has not played a very sexual character before either, but she does in "Don Jon." She also dives headlong into the role, playing an atypical voice of wisdom for Jon. Ester does not have her life together. She's neurotic and insecure, but knows more about life than he does.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become one of the best actors of his generation. Time and time again, he has challenged himself by taking a diverse array of unusual and difficult roles, and nailing them every time. Jon is a bit of a narcissist. He works out excessively, sees himself as a total stud, and prides himself on how much tail he gets. And yet, he's someone we understand, and to a degree, care about.
In his review of Quentin Tarantino's debut "Reservoir Dogs," Roger Ebert wrote, "Now that we know Quentin Tarantino can make a movie like 'Reservoir Dogs,' it's time for him to move on and make a better one." I will say the same thing about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He knows what he's doing. This movie is fearless and in-your-face. The former is admirable. The latter is a killer. Gordon-Levitt uses inserts, montages and shots of the characters faces to get his point across. It's certainly alive, but that's the film's problem. The style interferes with our relationship to the characters. They're not as interesting as they seem early on and I didn't really care emotionally what happened to them. Big problem.
All that aside, Joseph Gordon-Levitt remains one of the most talented and courageous people working in Hollywood. I'm always excited to see what he does in front of the camera. Now I'm curious to see what he does next behind it.
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johannson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly
Rated R for Strong Graphic Sexual Material and Dialogue Throughout, Nudity, Language and Some Drug Use
There is a difference between fantasy and reality. We all know this.
...or do we?
When we watch a movie like "Titanic," "There's Something About Mary," or any other romance, we fall in love with the characters and want them to be together until the end of time. When we watch pornography, we imagine ourselves having sex with the beautiful woman (or man) we see. They're both fantasies. It's unlikely that Ted and Mary will go through life without a single fight (if they even get married) and there's no chance in hell that an average guy sitting at his computer will get with the gorgeous babe or stud he sees on the internet. Still, they allow us to believe that it's possible.
The problem is when we start believing that these fantasies are real. For the two lead characters in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's writing and directing debut, "Don Jon," this is their flaw. Jon (Gordon-Levitt) prefers pornography over real sex (although he has no trouble finding gorgeous women to take home) because there's not bullshit attached. Some girls may not be willing or skilled enough to do the things that he wants. With pornography, he can find videos and images of anything that excites him. Barbara (Johannson), on the other hand, believes that "true love" means the "perfect" guy. She loves Jon, but there are things about him (the fact that he watches porn and that he doesn't have a college degree) that she doesn't like, so she sets out to mold him to her liking.
As they are right now, neither one of them is going to find what they're looking for. As Jon's classmate Esther (Moore) points out, they have to learn to accept each other as they are in order to have a real connection. They have to open themselves to each other. Only then will they experience "making love" as opposed to "just sex."
For his debut behind the camera, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has chosen two of the best actresses working today to co-star with him. Neither actress has ever played a part like this. Johannson has played the object of a man's affection ("Match Point," "Lost in Translation"), but never has she been this sexual. Johannson doesn't take her top off (well, she does, but it's from behind and in the dark) but that doesn't mean she doesn't throw herself into the role. There are more than a few sex scenes with her and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But far more impressive is how she deep she becomes buried into the character. Barbara is a sexpot, yes, but she's also stubborn, has a heavy Boston accent, and a perfectionist. Julianne Moore has not played a very sexual character before either, but she does in "Don Jon." She also dives headlong into the role, playing an atypical voice of wisdom for Jon. Ester does not have her life together. She's neurotic and insecure, but knows more about life than he does.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become one of the best actors of his generation. Time and time again, he has challenged himself by taking a diverse array of unusual and difficult roles, and nailing them every time. Jon is a bit of a narcissist. He works out excessively, sees himself as a total stud, and prides himself on how much tail he gets. And yet, he's someone we understand, and to a degree, care about.
In his review of Quentin Tarantino's debut "Reservoir Dogs," Roger Ebert wrote, "Now that we know Quentin Tarantino can make a movie like 'Reservoir Dogs,' it's time for him to move on and make a better one." I will say the same thing about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He knows what he's doing. This movie is fearless and in-your-face. The former is admirable. The latter is a killer. Gordon-Levitt uses inserts, montages and shots of the characters faces to get his point across. It's certainly alive, but that's the film's problem. The style interferes with our relationship to the characters. They're not as interesting as they seem early on and I didn't really care emotionally what happened to them. Big problem.
All that aside, Joseph Gordon-Levitt remains one of the most talented and courageous people working in Hollywood. I'm always excited to see what he does in front of the camera. Now I'm curious to see what he does next behind it.
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