A True Diamond in the Rough but Still a Gem Nonetheless

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2014)

Back in early fall 2012 Don Jon released what was probably the best trailer ever made. Unfortunately, the actual film falls short of the perfection of the trailer but its unique, fun and endearing enough to still be a must watch for film-lovers and casual fans alike.
Don Jon is funny, truly unique and visually and narratively interesting. Joseph goes above and beyond the typical directing duties and chooses surprisingly insightful camera shots and unique editing that elevates the narrative. In addition the script's midpoint-curveball turns the classic movie love story upside down and gives a fresh take on the genre that takes maximum advantage of the porn vs. romance movies premise.
But, on the other, the movie is far from perfect, in fact, it's a bit messy. The writing ranges from absolute brilliance to "what is going on?", the editing similarly ranges from dramatically powerful to downright jarring. And worst of all, there are shots in this film that are literally out of focus...
So yes, unfortunately the film is plagued with a sense of sloppy amateurism but it is also blessed with moments of brilliant auteurism. And the one thing Don Jon does execute perfectly is showing the world that Joseph Gordon Levitt is an auteur to watch out for in the years to come.