Welcome to ‘Underrated’ some analysis of the films ignored by the critics, that deserve more recognition. Often our opinions are half made up before we even begin watching a film, thanks to the overwhelming amount of critical opinion now available on cinema. Therefore, I hope to shed some much-needed light on the films neglected by widespread audiences.
Don Jon is the bold directorial debut from Joseph
Gordon Levitt about Jon; the gym loving, party obsessed, New jersey native. The
only catch is that he has an unhealthy addiction to porn. Jon does not have any
trouble when it comes to talking to women and securing relationships due to his
confident and robust approach. He does however struggle with holding onto these
relationships as his addiction to porn constantly stands in the way. His family
are on insistent on him settling down and finding a ‘nice’ girl to marry and
have children with, leaving Jon rushing into a relationship with the uptight but
attractive Barbara (played by Scarlett Johansson.) Jon enjoys the idea of being in
a relationship but with Barbara he cannot help but feel like something is
missing, both romantically and sexually, leaving his porn addiction to spiral
out of control in the midst of their relationship.
Jon’s parents love Barbara, not because they know her, but because
she fits the bill. This leaves Jon torn between his family’s wishes, Barbara,
and his porn addiction. But Don Jon does not just highlight the damaging effects
of porn, it underlines how the media as a whole can be just as toxic. Barbara
is very preachy about what she expects from Jon and is wholeheartedly against
porn. Nevertheless, Barbara herself is addicted to romantic comedies almost the
same amount as Jon is addicted to porn. Rom-Coms are obviously not the same as
watching porn, but it is the idea that people place unrealistic expectations on
their love life through what they watch in their leisure time. Jon sees Barbara
as a ‘10’ but never feels sexually satisfied, whereas Barbara wanted the happy
ending so much that she fell out of the real world.
Don Jon uses Porn effectively to grab people’s attention, but it is about something much bigger than that. Don Jon is actually a brilliant analysis of modern relationships. Often people enter into relationships with people unsure if they even like the person further than what is on the outside. Jon and Barbara’s relationship is one purely built on shallow looks and the pressure of Jon’s family for him to settle down. It isn’t until Jon meets Esther that he begins to understand that a relationship has to be a two way thing, developed by love, not merely physical attractiveness. Esther’s easy-going temperament free’s Jon of his rigid routine, opening him up and allowing him to be loved. With the arrival of Esther, Jon does not have any more gaps, he no longer needs porn for his own selfish gratification, he has real love.
From the outside, Don Jon may appear an odd choice for Gordon-Levitt to begin his directorial career with, but this is far from the mark. From an early age Gordon-Levitt was brought up with strong moral values due to his parents being social activists, and this has translated into Don Jon. The objectification of women is the prime issue with the porn industry and in Don Jon, Gordon-Levitt wanted to attack it head on, not celebrate it.
Don Jon is criminally overlooked, a film that transcends a wide range of genres and makes a bold statement about modern relationships. I am astonished that it is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s only film directed by him to date, leaving me waiting on the front row for his next directorial project.
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