Friday, January 10, 2014

Forever Barbara

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Even though I thought Joseph Gordon Levitt and Julianne Moore were both really good in Don Jon, am I ever going to think of anything other than Scarlett Johansson's performance when I think of this movie? The fact that Joe spends maybe a full quarter of his screen-time in some state of undress or jerking off while in some state of undress and I say that it's Scarlett Johansson that I'm gonna think of whenever I think of this movie, that right there tells you how good she is. It's (bouncy) top to (bouncy) bottom a performance I couldn't possibly throw enough positive superlatives at - it's gonna turn me into an entire movie poster's worth of Peter Travers up in here. She is "Phenomenal!" and "Drop Dead Sexy!" and "Gut Bustingly Funny!" She is fucking on fire is what she is, from the lacquered tips of those glossy nails to the toes of her dick-stomping high heels, with every shapely bit in between just va-va-vooming up more on point hilarity than this movie even has any idea what to do with. (That's not entirely fair - the movie uses her pretty well; I just always wanted more more more.) Even in her quiet moments - the way she offers to help Glenn Headley in the kitchen when she comes to meet Don's parents? You guys don't even know. Maybe it helps that I live in New York and I know this girl she is playing, I know her in the marrow of my bones, but you guys don't even KNOW how good ScarJo is in this movie. Can you sense the Noo Yawka in me bubbling up even as I type this? She's making me go all Outer Borough, just writing about her acting. I feel like I need to put on a Yankees cap and scratch myself so I can be so tremendously beneath her, like you don't even know.
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6 comments:

Daniel said...

Seriously, this performance is EVERYTHING. And I'm right there with you on knowing this girl. My cousin dated her and my best friend in college almost became her (thank GOD she saw reason when I gave that talk that only be given by a gay man to his fag hag). I knew EXACTLY who Barbara was within about 30 seconds of ScarJo's screentime. It's really an incredible piece of character work, and as much as I love her, completely unexpected coming from ScarJo. She's effortless. The way she says "You're cute. I like you." is forever seared into my brain. And that scene where she teases JGL outside her apartment door is so ridiculously sexy that it almost turned me straight.

billybil said...

Hey JA - I find it interesting that some of the sexiest writing I've read from you was about a woman! Lol Yeah - she was FANTASTIC in the movie!!!!

Anonymous said...

Seriously? That performance is NOT an Oscar worthy one. Not in a long shot, bud.

Jason Adams said...

News to me that I said anything about Oscars anywhere. But since the Oscars are usually handed out to garbage I'll take your comment, bud, as a good thing.

Allen said...

Yes yes yes! She is SO GOOD in Don Jon. I adored her when I first saw the film in September and I don't think I've seen another supporting actress performance in 2013 that has brought me as much joy and desire to see more than ScarJo did. It's a damn dirty shame that she hasn't been in the conversation for awards here, as I think her Barbara is a lot better than her Samantha...but what can you do?

Anonymous said...

ScarJo was the best part of this movie, otherwise it was forgettable. I wouldn't even classify it as a rental. I'm a big JGL and Julianne Moore fan, and I still thought it was a waste of time.