Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks 'Sin City 2' and Coen Brothers' influence on 'Don Jon's Addiction'

Look out for Tony Danza and the 'Inception' actor in matching tanks and jewelry

By Katie Hasty Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 3:04 PM

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza at Sundance

Credit: AP Photo

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's full-length feature directorial debut "Don Jon's Addiction" may be a comedy, but the "Inception" actor isn't ready to make a slapstick. Yet.

As the writer and lead actor in the Sundance pick, Gordon-Levitt looked more to the Coen Brothers and Mike Nichols for his brand of comedy in the off-kilter anti-rom-com. "It's more about the feeling of being uncomfortable, I want audience to laugh, but also laugh at themselves laughing," Gordon-Levitt told HitFix during our interview in Park City.

Casting "Don Jon's," Gordon-Levitt reunited with Tony Danza -- with whom he appeared in "Angels in the Outfield" some 20 years ago; the "Who's the Boss?" actor plays his loud, aggressive, age-stunted father, and the two shockingly have a lot of resemblance when they're simultaneously rocking wife-beater tank tops and slick hairdos in the film.

Co-star Julianne Moore was tickled by their similarities.

"You could really enjoy their physicality, with their shirts and jewelry and their big built-up arms hanging out," she said, laughing.

"As a real father of a son, I was particularly keen on that dynamic with Joe," Danza said.

Gordon-Levitt returns into only-acting roles with quite a few flicks lined up for 2013, and one recently confirmed appearance will be anything but a comedy. He and Josh Brolin were just added to the cast of "Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For," the pulpy sequel to 2005's "Sin City." As to why Gordon-Levitt signed on to the role as Johnny, he had one word: "Rodriguez."

"I love [Robert Rodriguez'] movies. I loved the first film. It's gonna be a blast."

Katie Hasty
Managing Editor

After five years as a columnist and editor at Billboard, Katie Hasty joined HitFix in 2009 for music and film reporting out of New York. The Midwest native has worked as a writer, music promoter and in A&R since 1999 and performs with her band Numbers And Letters.