Don Jon

Don Jon does not have nice characters, nor does it offer anything that dazzles or inspires. But it is distinctive, it knows what it wants to say and says it honestly and aptly. I applaud Gordon-Levitt for choosing to make this for Sundance festivalgoers and not for the much more numerous (and big-spending) consumers of dime-a-dozen Hollywood romances. (07/11/2013)

This film looks different on the outside (synopsis, trailers) than what it is. I wasn’t expecting it to be so mature and self-aware, my appreciation for Gordon-Levitt has risen. Until now I regarded him as an interesting actor, but now I seem him as an interesting filmmaker who knows what he wants to say without pandering. (03/01/2014)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's striking feature film debut may have a significantly smaller scope than it tries to appear, but when it fully flexes all its muscles, it works perfectly. Life truths, however wrapped in seemingly trivial issues of pornography or personal space, are sometimes just a few short sentences away from us. And to put such thoughts on paper, to film them, and even to play the central sixpack character takes courage. (23/12/2014)

A rather icky confession of one generation. In his director’s debut, Don Joe speaks to the masses who sit every night by their computers with a pack of tissues. He paints Scarlett as a tough bitch and we are presented in the right (well, still a bit twisted) light. Nice debut piece. Keep up the good work. (03/01/2014)

This is one of those honest adult films. Like Rough Night. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is very talented. Moreover, his work with counterparts Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore was nothing short of brilliant. (10/09/2022)

A bit too much teen cover, but otherwise it’s a quite interesting probe into a boy's life, or rather thoughts. A classic story at the beginning, which turns into a quite mature and watchable thing over time (with Julianne Moore's arrival on the scene). For a film about Joseph Gordon-Levitt's age, this one is more distinctive than it may seem at first impression. Scarlett Johansson is great again. (16/09/2015)

One of those movies that I could watch until I'm blue in the face just for its heap of delicious life truths. Levitt's personality now seems to be in a very specific phase, where he remains a free-thinking young man masturbating to death, while also being fully aware of all the problems and bitterness that free-thinking and an adult life full of "serious" relationships and different needs involve. As a result, Don Jon is not only a brilliant generational statement where the young prefer casual sex and the family is presented as a group of completely disparate and disconnected people, but also an enjoyable satirical comedy, aptly addressing the unbearable mannerisms of the female population, and disarming in its endearingly frank portrayal of them. The direction cannot be faulted at all, the script is well smart and very original within the genre and all the actors are really enjoying their roles – especially Levitt, who has risen incredibly in my eyes again. I'm even afraid that if I looked as good as him, I'd be living just like Don Jon... :P 85% (19/04/2014)

Wow, so the girl is breaking up with her boyfriend because he watches porn. And she even accuses him of being a hypocrite because he does it. The question is whether Gordon-Levitt meant it as hyperbole or if there really are people who think like this. So maybe yes. I have a bit of a problem with the whole movie, whether it was intentional or if the social criticism was just coincidental. The unpleasant characters are clearly intentional, I've never seen Scarlett so horrible before. The movie wants to say something, but in the end I had the feeling that it didn't quite succeed. When I compare it to a similarly self-destructive movie like "Shame", the message is not as strong and it's more of a pointing out of problems in society. Not that people watch porn, but that they are unable to communicate. (28/01/2014)