Reviews by:
@the_owlseyes
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“The porn films are not about sex. Sex is airbrushed and digitally washed out of the films. There is no acting because none of the women are permitted to have what amounts to a personality. The one emotion they are allowed to display is an unquenchable desire to satisfy men, especially if that desire involves the women’s physical and emotional degradation. The lightning in the films is harsh and clinical. Pubic hair is shaved off to give the women the look of young girls or rubber dolls. Porn, which advertises itself as sex, is a bizarre, bleached pantomime of sex. The acts onscreen are beyond human endurance. The scenarios are absurd. The manicured and groomed bodies, the huge artificial breasts, the pouting oversized lips, the erections that never go down, and the sculpted bodies are unreal. Makeup and production mask blemishes. There are no beads of sweat, no wrinkle lines, no human imperfections. Sex is reduced to a narrow spectrum of sterilized dimensions. It does not include the dank smell of human bodies, the thump of a pulse, taste, breath—or tenderness. Those in films are puppets, packaged female commodities. They have no honest emotion, are devoid of authentic human beauty, and resemble plastic. Pornography does not promote sex, if one defines sex as a shared act between two partners. It promotes masturbation. It promotes the solitary auto-arousal that precludes intimacy and love. Pornography is about getting yourself off at someone else’s expense”
Chris Hedges, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle
PLOT
"A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love" or "A modern adaptation of Don Jon".
SCRIPT
As a modern adaptation of Don Juan by Lord Byron, it works perfectly. The main character Jon, has an amazing journey which brings him to become a better partner and to find a person who truly loves. I like how Barbara and Esther are used to show two different sides of relationships, and the first one gets a lot of criticism. I like how subtle is the movie about Jon past and parent's relationship, which leaves us wondering how he became such a cynical porn addict womanizer. This movie not only criticizes toxic masculinity, codependent relationships, possessive partners, porn misinformation and such, but it's also able to deal with other themes like friendship, family, loss and career aspirations.
Unfortunately only Jon gets a development, because the other characters, especially his friends and family are just blurs. That's a shame because the movie has a good pacing and an interesting concept but it wastes it to focalize on the protagonist. Overall is good but it doesn't go beyond average.
Script: 6/10
ACTING
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a carismatic and likeable lead, even though he plays a role which is a bit douchy and a bit himbo. Scarlet Johansson is perfect for her role, which seems written for her. Julianne Moore is amazing as well. Her casting is on point and her character is the perfect opposite to Johansson's character. The other players are just ok. Brie Larson has a marginal role and she doesn't get to say much, which is kinda strange, considering her talent. Tony Danza is good and I like how he plays his character, by making him a mirror to Gordon-Levitt's Jon. Overall is pretty good. The weakest link is Jeremy Luke.
Acting: 7/10
PHOTOGRAPHY
It doesn't have anything interesting or remarkable about it. Light is mostly flat and the movie doesn't try to be anything more than mediocre in terms of photography. It doesn't hurt the audience but it isn't a strength of this flick.
Photography: 6/10
EDITING
I find it good and, sometimes, original but I won't say that impressed me. Sure, it isn't insufficient but it doesn't elevate the overall quality of this movie. It's ok, nothing more.
Editing: 6/10
SPECIAL EFFECTS
They're marginal and not invasive. As it should be, because this movie is simple and realistic.
Special Effects: 6/10
SOUNDTRACK
It's good and it evolves with the character. I find Good Vibrations by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch particularly fit for Joseph Gordon-Levitt character. This movie is also able to make a simple jingle memorable and then it takes it and integrates it in the final track, which represent the character growth. It isn't the most remarkable soundtrack but I like it.
Soundtrack: 7/10
COSTUMES
Nothing interesting about them. They works and fit the characters that's all.
Costumes: 6/10
CONCLUSION
Script: 6/10
Acting: 7/10
Photography: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Soundtrack: 7/10
Costumes: 6/10
AVERAGE: 6,28
An interesting movie with an interesting concept and a poorly executed script. Watch it because it can help you understand a lot of things about love and relationships.
Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Screenplay: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Rob Brown, Glenne Headly, Brie Larson, Tony Danza
Soundtrack: Nathan Johnson
Cinematography: Thomas Kloss
Running Time: 90 minutes
Budget: $7.5 million
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