Fantastic first outing as a directorial powerhouse

Rating: 9/10 (3 October 2013)

Don Jon Martello, the epitome of a modern day Don Juan, is the marvelous brainchild of one of America's up and coming great actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Given this is his first venture into the field of directing this should not deter anyone from seeing this movie. There is more heart and emotion in this movie than any big budget Hollywood gush fest could bring forth in a 100 million dollar budget. The realism and examination of human emotion and interaction in relationships is effortlessly presented by JGL. He critiques the expectations of beauty and love brought forth by two generations of individuals veiled with an air of coarse and hilarious dialogue. This movie seeks to do what Shame did for sex addiction 2 years before and unlike Shame, Don Jon wishes to deal with the subject in a more accessible and less depressing manner. In doing so we as viewers are given a delicious and entertaining introduction of the stigma that is porn addiction. But to focus on the actual acting the actors appear to be very comfortable and genuine with the portrayal of their characters. JGL effortlessly evinces the meathead and sex obsessed persona of Jon Martello. Scarlett Johansson just exudes sexuality and her spot on Jersey accent actually had me cringing from laughter during the movie. The helpless romantic mother (Glenne Headly), the detached and sexually obsessed father (Tony Danza), and the almost Greek tragedian and taciturn character of Monica Martello (Brie Larson) helps to round out this extremely idiosyncratic American family.Finally with the woman who teaches the meaning to Jon of what making love is all about, the sexy, sassy Esther (Julianne Moore). This movie had me entertained from beginning to slightly too cheesy end but nonetheless I recommend this movie to all modern film lovers.