Movie with Abe: Don Jon

Don Jon
Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Released September 27, 2013

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a rare success story. The 32-year-old actor started out his career on television, and shot to fame with a regular role on the comedy “3rd Rock from the Sun.” After a decent dent in independent film, Gordon-Levitt has been on fire, triumphing equally in action movies like “Inception, “The Dark Knight Rises,” and “Looper,” and comedies like “500 Days of Summer” and “50/50.” For his first feature-length effort behind the camera, Gordon-Levitt chooses drama, blending in comedy and parody for an extremely effective and involving story about an addict unable to recognize his addiction.

Gordon-Levitt’s first time behind the camera produces an extremely-stylized, slickly-edited product that truly understands its protagonist. Jon narrates his story, explaining the important values in his life and exposing his firm commitment to watching porn on a daily basis and finding more satisfaction in it than he ever finds in sex, which he also has quite regularly. Jon is unapologetic about his passions, even going to church routinely to confess his sins, only to be given a strict regiment of easy actions to get himself absolved. As always tends to be the case, all that changes when Jon meets a girl and can’t see straight anymore.

This film oozes New Jersey, giving all of its characters thick, unmistakable accents and imbuing them with distinguished, stereotypical personality traits – the young guy who works out and puts gel in his hair, the well-primped girl who is always chewing gum, the father who always watches TV, the sister who is literally glued to her phone, among others. That exaggerated portrait is an asset to the film, since Jon’s obsession fits in perfectly. Though it may be purposely overdone, “Don Jon” feels authentic, and when it does goes over the top, it’s to marvelous, deliberate effect.

Gordon-Levitt dons his accent proudly and gives a tremendously committed performance, toning his mannerisms like his character tones his body and creating a sentimental jerk who is easily endearing. Scarlett Johansson deserves equal credit for contributing an irritating but seductive romantic foil for him, much more complex than she initially seems. Though she appears at first an odd fit, Julianne Moore proves exceptionally competent as a classmate of Jon’s, and Tony Danza and Brie Larson perform to perfection as Jon’s parents. Gordon-Levitt and Johansson are on exactly the same page, and so is the rest of the cast. This movie works because of its ensemble’s efforts and its sharp script by Gordon-Levitt, and there’s never a dull moment throughout this poignant and very well-executed film that heads in unexpected directions.

B+

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Don Jon

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Don Jon – Opening September 27, 2013

This is probably the most notable of the high-profile films that I didn’t get a chance to see at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, back when it was still known as “Don Jon’s Addiction.” I had my first opportunity this past weekend to watch the trailer for this drama, and I’m definitely intrigued. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been working hard the past couple of years and developed a formidable reputation for himself, turning in solid genre work in films like “Looper” and “The Dark Knight Rises” while commanding dramatic comedies such as “50/50” and “500 Days of Summer.” Stepping behind the camera to write and direct the story of a man addicted to porn who finds his obsession bleeding into his new relationship is definitely appealing. This looks like an infinitely lighter and brighter version of “Shame” with an equally magnetic actor at its center. What’s most surprising about the trailer is that Scarlett Johansson appears to be putting effort into her performance, throwing on an accent and some enthusiasm to portray something other than the undeniably alluring yet inarguably uncreative archetype she has developed for herself. The film should have plenty to say on society and the nature of romance and relationships, but it looks like to be a stunning cinematic feat as well, embracing the transformative power of the moving image. This is sure to be one of the big films of the fall, and a positive step forward in the careers of its two stars.