Review: Don Jon

Joseph Gordon Levitt not only writes, acts, produces and directs but is the founder of hitRECord, an online collaborative production company. His passion for remix culture is brought to the screen in his feature debut, Don Jon. This is a slick exploration of modern relationships that oozes style and swagger. Levitt plays the titular Jon, a status-obsessed ‘guido’ who enjoys rating women in clubs and regards pornography as more satisfying than actual sex.

It would be easy to label the film anti-pornography. Levitt brilliantly addresses the cultural impact of porn on young men’s view of women. But thankfully, Levitt refuses to pander to fear-mongering and finger-pointing. Instead, he explores the myriad of ways intimacy is eroded by objectification, consumerism and control. He describes the vivacious, gum-cracking Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) as “the most beautiful ‘thing’ I’ve ever seen”.
She, for her part, regards him as a trophy to be collected. Julianne Moore, meanwhile, is stunning as a vulnerable older woman. Levitt has succeeded in starting a smart, hugely entertaining conversation about media, objectification and forging real relationships. I suspect this is the beginning of a lengthy, fun and challenging dialogue with his audience.