While many consider erotica a form of art, Netflix has not quite been able to comprehend the term ‘erotic’. Often presenting borderline pornography that indulges in various twisted fetishes, the streamer has yet to master the craft of creating a sublime and sensual immersive experience for the viewers. However, it does have a few titles that are worth exploring, including this one which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson.
In his directorial debut, Gordon-Levitt stars as the titular Jon and is joined by Julianne Moore and Scarlett Johansson, all of whom received exalted praise for their individual performances. A brilliant take on how an obsession with erotica leads to one’s ruin, it has its fair share of raunchy, super sexy scenes, starring some super sexy actors.
The film follows Jon Martello, who is struggling with modern life. He has his set priorities that revolve around his family, car, his friends, women and porn, the latter of which becomes an obsession. Addicted to porn films, he soon finds himself getting sexually and emotionally intimate with a middle-aged woman after he is dumped by a woman named Barbara.
It’s a beautiful piece of writing from Gordon-Levitt, who was inspired by his work with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s turn on 500 Days of Summer. Their approach to screenwriting inspired the would-be director to take on a somewhat difficult premise and deliver a sincere set of dialogues.
JGL had always earmarked Scarlett Johansson for the role of Barbra and flew out to the Avengers set in New Mexico to read her the script and get the actor to sign on the dotted line. Julianne Moore also delivers a world-beating performance. We do have one piece of advice for anyone watching this film on a first date: don’t.
Not only is Gordon-Levitt unapproachably handsome with a pumped-up physique, but the film deals almost entirely with male predelictation for masturbation, which isn’t the best topic of conversation for a first date.
Watch Don Jon on Netflix now.
