Well done, Joseph G-L!

Rating: 8/10 (22 November 2013)

Jersey boy Jon is a jack-the-lad who, despite regular sexual success with woman he picks up, still prefers to get sexual satisfaction care of on-line porn. When he enters a serious, adult, monogamous relationship with Barbara, he discovers that she regards his continuing relationship with porn as a breach of trust.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who writes and directs as well as stars, shows that he is a film maker of considerable ability and maturity. This story is consistently entertaining, it balances humour with serious consideration of the issues involved (the reasons behind Jon's preference for porn are called into question, as are Barbara's motives), and it is well structured (particularly in its use of repetition) and well directed. Both Gordon-Levitt and Scarlet Johansen do well, Tony Danza is most enjoyable as Jon's Dad, and Julianne Moore - not an actress I care for - gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as the apparently free-spirited Esther. I hope it is recognised at awards time.
I enjoyed this quirky indie movie quite a lot, but it is not for those who object to sex and bad language in movies.