Worth Watching

Rating: 7/10 (13 October 2013)

While not a masterpiece, Don Jon does offer funny moments and cleverly crafted scenes. It is also, for the most part, well-acted and directed. Most importantly, it is relevant. It takes us into the life of a young man whose perception of sex and relationships is tainted by all-too-accessible internet porn. While some of the philosophy of the film is a bit flawed, Don Jon offers interesting food for thought and is an entertaining watch. The way Jon "keeps score" with penances he receives during confession is kind of brilliant.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his part perfectly. Tony Danza's performance is decent but vastly overrated. Scarlett Johanssen turns in another solid performance, but she does definitely overact in this one. Julianne Moore excels in bigger-than-life roles (maybe her brilliant performance in The End of the Affair has spoiled me forever), but her acting doesn't have the same sparkle when she plays everyday Jane roles like Esther in Don Jon. The truth is, the role of Esther is more of a convenient plot device, so it's not totally Moore's fault.
Brie Larson, who plays Jon's sister Monica, is probably my favorite up-and-coming actor. Though she has hardly lines in this film, the ones she does have count for a lot. Monica's face is buried in a cell phone throughout most of the movie, but she doesn't miss a thing. What she tells Jon is surprisingly insightful. Overall, I would give Don Jon a 7.5, but since I can't, I give it a 7.