JCVD Movie
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Storyline
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Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States.
| Jean-Claude Van Damme | J.C.V.D. |
| François Damiens | Bruges |
| Zinedine Soualem | L'homme au bonnet |
| Karim Belkhadra | Le vigile |
| Jean-François Wolff | Le trentenaire |
| Anne Paulicevich | La guichetière |
| John Flanders | Prosecuting attorney |
| Dean Gregory | Realisateur de Tobey Wood |
| Kim Hermans | Prisoner in kickboxing outfit |
| Steve Preston | Accessoiriste JCVD |
| Paul Rockenbrod | Tobey Wood |
| Alan Rossett | Bernstein |
| Jesse Joe Walsh | Jeff |
| Leslie Woodhall | Prison visitor |
| Saskia Flanders | J.C.V.D.'s daughter |
| Mabrouk El Mechri |
7.80 out of 10 (650 votes)
Visitor Reviews
What an amazing movie from Van Damme.
posted on 26 Aug 2009Let me tell you this up front - if you are expecting the usual action movie from Van Damme here, you will be sorely disappointed. JCVD is an intelligent comedy with some heist elements thrown in, which makes interesting arguments about the personal life and issues faced by an aging action star.Jeane Claude Van Damme plays a different version of himself where he is tied up in legal custody of his child, going broke, and is unhappy about the current slate of movies that he has worked in. All these issues lead him to visit his hometown Belgium to start things over, when he is involved in an ongoing heist and is mistaken to be the oppressor by the police.The acting is top-notch. Van Damme shines in every scene he is in, especially in the monologue he gives which really highlights his dramatic range to the fullest. The rest of the cast also impress with their zany characters and hilarious satire.Perhaps the greatest praise goes to writer/director Mabrouk El Mechri. The movie works great because of a tightly focused script with interesting questions raised about the public's perception and respect of an international action star, and how the star himself is no different than others in his problems. It would really help if you know more about Van Damme's history to get some of the inside jokes made towards his career.The direction is slick, with impressive production values. The non-linear narrative keeps you glued and interested, and the great use of camera angles and different shots are suited to the movie.Overall, JCVD is a gem which should be seen by everyone. It's Van Damme's best and holds an interesting theme which is explored in a number of effective ways. Highly recommended!
JCVD life? No thanks...
posted on 24 Aug 2009JCVD life? No thanks... If i wanted some kind of biography, i could find elsewhere...This is not your usual Jan Claude... no suspense... no fighting scenes... no interest...This is a low budget drama... not a crime film... not the usual Jan Claude movie that you expect.This was boring... veeeery boring... i turned it off half the movie, and i don't do that usually...Go back and watch a real old VD movie... they were priceless...One point for movie... bored me to death...
Thank you for showing the world what an action character really stands for
posted on 06 Aug 2009This is the movie we've all been waiting for.Here he finally makes a stand , against all who mock him.Here he shows how violent movies , can inspire good in people.The violence doesn't matter , as long as you represent good.I love the whole convicting him in the end thing, brilliant.Shows that even if you do the wright thing , you still pay the price , and he endures it in the end.Marvelous ending.A big hand to the director , who was spectacular in filming this movie.I just say that i'm now looking forward to his next film , which he wrote.I can only say that , i never lost faith in him as a character , and he redeemed himself to the public , to me.Thank you Jean-Claude Van Varenberg.
Interesting movie, with a terrific performance by Van Damme.
posted on 06 Aug 2009Interesting concept from french director Mabrouk el Mechri: real action star Jean Claude Van Damme is engaged into a bitter legal battle for his daughter's custody. Said daughter is mocked by her classmates for her father's antics, and prefers staying with her mother. Ridiculed by the media and smarty-pants naysayers, condemned to shoot sub-par B-movies in eastern Europe, almost broke and devastated by his little girl's condition, Jean Claude flies back to his native Belgium in order to find solace. After an odd encounter with small time crooks, his life and perception by the public will be changed forever.From a direction/scriptwriting point of view, the movie is somewhat lacking focus. It's relying a bit too much on inside jokes and heist movie clichés, for better or worse. There are some truly great moments (the opening scene is hilarious - any scene using Baby Huey's "Hard Times" tune cannot be bad anyway; the court scenes are cleverly written and the very last shot finds a perfect balance of emotion without being overblown or tear-jerking) and the whole film deserves praise for being original and clever. However it stretches some scenes way too much, uses an awful bleached color scheme that could turn off some people (it's just a detail, but it annoyed me throughout the whole screening) and uses unnecessary flashbacks instead of sticking to a more tight storytelling, which could've benefited the movie in my humble opinion.However, these little flaws are nothing compared to the enormous heart this movie displays. Jean Claude Van Damme may not be Daniel Day Lewis or Sean Penn, but he gives an astounding performance in this film. He's very comfortable in the comical scenes, but his acting chops really shine when the movie gets emotional. His long monologue, looking at the camera, and the audience (and perhaps even God) is nothing short of amazing. In his own words, he really begs for a second chance not only in his career, but in life. He's incredibly moving (acting in his native language helps a lot) and above all doesn't try to pretend he's something more than a washed up movie star, with a somewhat limited vocabulary. He just asks for one more chance, and judging by this flick he truly deserves it.Overall, a nice surprise for those unfamiliar with "the Muscles from Brussels" and a refreshing comedy. Except a few complaints about the pace and the direction it's a highly recommended movie. And hopefully the beginning of a new career for JCVD.
I've done nothing! … JCVD
posted on 31 Jul 2009Chalk up JCVD as another great entry to the breaking the fourth wall style of film-making, but also understand that there is a lot more going for it than just being experimental and unafraid to be abnormal. Not only does Jean-Claude Van Damme give possibly his best performance ever—I mean really, really good—but he does so playing a character that is so much like his real life self you would believe this to be an autobiography if you didn't know better. How director Mabrouk El Mechri talked him into agreeing to this format, I don't know, but thankfully he did. As an entertaining thriller, bank heist flick it succeeds in spades. However, you should look deeper and see the form of catharsis it must have instilled in Van Damme, finally being able to set the record straight about the women, the money, and the drugs. Complete with a heartfelt monologue that doubles as a prayer to God from JCVD and a plea to the public from Van Damme himself that he has turned his life around, this is just fantastic cinema.El Mechri has some flair to his work and makes the proceedings exciting. The story is told out of order, with good reason, and broken up with title cards of quotes, ("the stone falls on the egg … the egg breaks" and "the egg falls on the stone … the egg breaks" for example), just remember them because they do become part of the dialogue before the end. And talk about starting with a bang; the entire opening credit sequence is one long take, choreographed to perfection, of Van Damme wreaking havoc on bad guys, kicking them into car windows and saving a hostage. An impressive feat for anyone, let alone a 47-year old action star, it ends very tongue-in-cheek, with a flub followed by an upstart foreign director ignoring his star, wondering why he thinks they are making the next Citizen Kane. Between this moment and the few scenes involving his agent, the satire on Hollywood and its money marketing is handled quite well.You must give the star a ton of credit for leaving it all out there for this performance. To have to pretty much reenact the courtroom drama of trying to get his daughter's custody must have been very trying, if not also easy to bring up the emotions necessary to make the scenes work. His utter disgust on how the films he made and the fake violence he inflicted was used against him when it was those same two things that supported his family is there for all to see. Here he is, in a rush to make the post office/bank to wire money so he can retain his attorney, and getting out of his cab still takes the time to pose for photos at a local video store. Despite everything, here is a genuinely kind man, someone who admits to not wanting to have to apologize for his success, for his dream as a thirteen year old coming true. He worked hard and he made it to the top, but sometimes fame can destroy too. A wonderful scene in the cab, talking to the driver shows this very perceptively. Here he is, a tired man who hasn't slept in two days wanting to rest in the backseat and he gets called rude because the driver is a fan. If he wasn't a star, his request would have been acknowledged, but for some reason fans feel entitled to a star treating them with "respect". Maybe there is truth to that, but honestly, it is we the public doing so that makes celebrities so reviled. Our intrusiveness makes them mean and spiteful; we've created the monsters.There is a lot of humor mixed in with the action and suspense. The whole premise revolves around the robbery of a post office/bank for which the police believe JCVD is the perpetrator. As such, the entire city comes out in support of their hero—signs saying "Free Van Damme"—and the police commissioner, played nicely by François Damiens, tries to use the celebrity in his favor. By getting his lawyer on the phone and bringing his parents down to the scene, things start spiraling out of control inside. Things are not always as they seem, however, shown by the repetition of scenes. What is first viewed from the outside of the post office, the start of a robbery while police arrive, becomes completely different when shown again later from the inside, following JCVD as he attempts to get his money wired to Los Angeles.The medium of film is utilized to its fullest capabilities in this way. We are able to see things multiple times, from differing vantage points; we are allowed a moment alone with the star as he takes himself out of the movie and enters reality in a brilliantly subtle way, raising right out of frame until he's on level with the stage lights; and we are even shown a scene in Van Damme's mind, a dream sequence played out before the film rewinds itself and portrays what really happened. Hollywood may love the happy endings of heroes beating all odds and saving the day, but unfortunately real life is never so forgiving. However, despite the cynical way in which the whole ordeal ends, El Mechri does allow for one last moment of heart, completing the film with a sense of quasi-redemption and allowing Van Damme's catharsis an end he may hopefully see outside of the movies too.
Easily Van Damme's best!
posted on 29 Jul 2009This is easily the best Jean-Claude Van Damme film ever! Although Double Team also staring Dennis Rodman would have to be close (this is a joke.. kind of..). In JCVD we see a different side to Van Damme that we have never seen before, and finally we get to see that the man can actually act! Van Damme plays himself, having difficulties landing movie roles (losing out on a part to Steven Seagal after he cuts off his ponytail), tax problems and an impending legal battle over the custody of his daughter, Van Damme decides to travel back to the country of his birth. Most of this movie is spoken in French, which is cool to see Van Damme speaking his native language. This is a great change from Van Damme's signature action films, and is classed as a Drama with parts of it often being quite funny. Van Damme delivers a surprisingly emotional performance, which even includes a very random and heartfelt 5 or so minutes monologue, which begins with him stating 'this is more than a film...'. After watching this film it is hard not to like Van Damme and feel sorry for him. This movie was also very well shot, with some really great cinematography and lighting that really helped set the mood throughout. This film is definitely recommended! My Rating: 8/10
TRIUMPHANT! Incredibly Moving! The Ultimate Comeback Film for Van
posted on 23 Jul 2009If I had to sum up Jean Claude Van Damme's new film "J.C.V.D.," I would say: TRIUMPHANT! Incredibly Moving! The Ultimate Comeback Film for Van Damme! To truly give this film the recognition that it deserves, one needs to expand on those few words. J.C.V.D. is as real as a film can get. It has some characteristics that give it a documentary feel, but it is truly a sort of biographical film. Jean Claude Van Damme shows his entire range. It makes the statement "Hey look at what everyone has been missing all these years!" J.C.V.D not only reveals the incredible character depth that Jean Claude Van Damme is capable of, but it showcases all of his skills and range of talents. If anyone thinks that Van Damme doesn't still "have it," this film will show you that Jean Claude Van Damme HAS IT more then ever!
Terrible.
posted on 21 Jul 2009I never thought that Van Damme gonna play a real movie.I thought he was an "actor" that makes movies only for people with low IQ or for someone who wants just to relax. After i read all the good reviews here, i thought hey maybe that guy made a really good film.I was wrong, the film is terrible. You can say that is joke. Really low budget,no story at all, acting worst than a cow. His really worst movie ever,because isn't even a typical action movie.I think that JCVD tried to fool people. Don'tWatch It
The direction makes all the difference
posted on 25 Jun 2009I just saw this movie at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montréal (Canada), and allow me to tell you that it's a must see film for everyone. I'm a big Van Damme fan and I have all the films he ever made so I'm gonna concentrate my comment around Van Damme. The first thing I'll say is that this movie is his best and possibly one of the best movies of the year. Going to the theatre, I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, after all it's Jean Claude Van Damme and you see his movies for the action and his high kicks not for his acting. But the director made all the difference in Jean Claude's performance. The concept itself helps a lot. Van Damme is playing himself, so he's not playing one of his stereotyped roles. Furthermore, him speaking in his native language made a huge impact on his performance. He's more natural and more authentic which made him more credible. Compared to all other movies he appeared in, this is a revelation. The comedic tone of the movie is also something to be noted. The jokes are well done but what makes the difference is the jokes focused on Van Damme. The reference to his roundhouse kicks are just hilarious. Two moments especially shine in this regard. The first one is the demonstration in the post office and the second one happens towards the end of the film. You just can't miss them and they have that good old classic Van Damage feel to them. Also worth mentioning are his personal goofy quotes in french. The one when he's interviewed by a french journalist who asks him about the total of 1+1 will leave you breathless. Not to mention the courthouse sequence which was so funny. But the best moment of the movie remains his monologue to the camera. For five minutes, or so, he goes back to his life. He talks about how he believed in the American dream, his drug and marriage problems, how Hollywood screwed him up ,how he wants so bad to be granted a second chance etc. It's a classic cinema moment in all senses. It felt more a confession than anything else. It was moving and genuine and you can feel the human being behind The Muscles from Brussels image. The other thing to be noted is the long shot at the beginning of the movie. It was hilarious and it summarizes in a sense all of Van Damme's career: Gunfights, high kicks, goofy acting you name them. In the end, the direction of the film really sets it apart from any other Van Damme's movies. The director knew how to get the best of Van Damme and put together a film that felt genuine and true. However, some questions remain. What's Van Damme going to do from now on? Will he be recognized as an accomplished actor? Will he get scripts that show him more as a human being rather than a bulk of muscles? Will he be making more European films rather than keep on making straight to DVD films? I can't say, but one thing remains for certain: JCVD is the rebirth of JCVD.
What a (Van) Damme Good movie!!!!
posted on 15 Jun 2009You know when you hear a Van Damme movie, you already have a mindset of what the movie will be like, that is exactly what the makers want you to think about this one. In this way they have the element of surprise and i think it was brilliant. This movie incorporates the real hardships that JC is enduring regarding his money problems and custody of his daughter with a wrong place at the wrong time heist movie.The movie is majority in french, which i think was a great thing as there is a sense of vulnerability to him when he speaks his native tongue. In Van Damme's ailing career, we hear what it is like to be constantly ridiculed and taken advantage of because you are struggling. The movie contains a 8 min monologue by JC, a real heartfelt explanation of what has happened to him and why.Lets face it, he was a real asset to action movies when his type of action was cool, so was Sly and so was Arnie. We saw Sly do the same thing when he found closure with the last Rambo and Rocky movies. And we saw Arnie redeem himself by becoming governor of Cali. Im glad JC has realized that his genre of action is of a bygone era and he needs to adapt to survive, this movie shows he's evolution into a serious actor, one that will do in the 21st century. Another strategic move was to do a movie where his real fan base is, his home country. We see the love that people have for him there, i think its more respect for getting himself out.I think this movie is the re-intro of Van Damme to stardom. Cant wait to see if he follows his form with another great movie. Im anxious in fact, because this movie made me believe he should succeed.
It's not action, it's not fiction, it's "JCVD"
posted on 13 Jun 2009In what was certainly one of the most original and overlooked films from 2008, "JCVD" signals the return of one of action cinema's biggest stars: Belgian martial artist and "actor" Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme has never really gotten a good rap from critics or fans of his movies, ever since making his starring debut in "Bloodsport" (1988) and following it up with a number of hit-and-miss martial arts/action vehicles over the years before retreating to straight-to-video and limited theatrical releases of his films overseas.But all of that bad-mouthing will be put to rest after they see Mabrouk El Mechri's "JCVD," in which Van Damme is pretty much playing himself, or some-less-than-idealized version thereof, in a sorta-true, semi-autobiographical, martial arts-action-comedy romp/account of his life. At age 47, he's still remarkably well-kept in shape, and can still deliver those punishing spin-kicks to the head. Oh, and by the way, he's also a great actor in this movie. Not just great, but brilliant. Now you may think I just committed a journalistic faux pas. Using the terms "good actor" and "Van Damme" in the same sentence? Yes. Van Damme does prove to be a brilliant performer who is indeed capable of some dramatic depth, in addition to kicking people in the head and knocking bad guys' lights out.El Mechri's script allows Van Damme to search inside himself, and reflect on his life and career, fatherhood, his past drug use, his numerous mistakes and failures, and what the future has in store for him (more on this later). This is a side of the Belgian "Muscles from Brussels" that has never been seen before by anyone and by golly, it's brilliant; it's Oscar-worthy. I may have just committed another journalistic faux pas, but you know what? I don't care, I loved this movie.In "JCVD," Van Damme retreats from Hollywood back to his native Belgium, in the hopes of finding some peace and tranquility, but things don't go quite as expected. Flashbacks reveal why he left America in the first place: he had just walked off the set of his latest action movie (shown brilliantly during the opening credits sequence), he lost out a promising movie role to Steven Seagal (when is he going to make his big comeback?), he's lost custody of his daughter to his ex-wife, his credit cards are maxed-out, and he's completely out of cash. He's broke, he's punchy, and he's fed-up. Could things get any worse? Do rabbits eat carrots?El Mechri's film plays remarkably well with Van Damme's world-weariness and bad luck; it goes to show that this director knew how to channel Van Damme's innermost thoughts and feelings and translate them to the screen in a manner that is not pandering to the audience, but are truthful and insightful. To top it off, he goes into a nearby post office, which is caught right in the middle of a robbery. The trio of desperate thieves inside are holding hostages, and decide to use Van Damme to their advantage: he is going to be their to freedom. So rather than Van Damme go the usual route into action-movie-hero mode (that IS a real gun to his head), El Mechri's film instead allows for some deep introspection on the part of Our Hero, culminating in an amazing, Oscar-worthy soliloquy where Van Damme reflects on well, everything about his life leading up to this moment.It should be stated that "JCVD" is not an action film in the traditional sense, but rather an ingenious crime thriller in the same league with "Dog Day Afternoon," since the hostage crisis erupts into a full-blown media circus, with the police, media, Van Damme's fans and even his own parents thinking he's the mastermind behind the whole thing! "JCVD" is also the first major film of Van Damme's where he is seen speaking mostly in his native French, which also adds to the authenticity of his great acting here. Although about 20% film is English-language dialogue, the remaining 80% of French dialogue also adds dimensions to an already-fantastic film experience.While I think it's a criminal shame that Jean-Claude Van Damme did not get an Oscar nomination for this film (not do I think he ever will get an Oscar nomination), "JCVD" was the actor's return to form, specifically, to a newer, better form. It's his greatest film so far, and his greatest performance so far. "JCVD" ends the way it's supposed to, I guess, but it shows that even someone like Van Damme deserves a second chance at fame (Lord knows, he does), and goes to hoping that he doesn't make the same mistakes twice.It's not action, it's not fiction, it's "JCVD."10/10
Impressive
posted on 11 Jun 2009A fun gimmick film that has the benefit of a fine, emerging talent behind the camera. This film is sure to get Mabrouk El Mechri a job in Hollywood. Hopefully he doesn't screw it up and become just another Luc Besson or Leterrier. The film is about martial arts superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme. Well, maybe not a superstar anymore. His career has been fading steadily since the mid 1990s. Van Damme (fictionally) is involved in a custody fight for his daughter. After two straight days awake, Van Damme gets caught up in a bank robbery in Brussells. The cops actually mistake him for the robber, which the real robbers use to their advantage. It's a cleverly made movie in both its writing and film-making. The photography is mostly hand-held, but the director relies on long, unbroken cuts. The opening sequence, which shows Van Damme making an action flick, is especially impressive. The film falters once or twice, most notably in a five minute soliloquy which Van Damme delivers. But, heck, I think it's pretty ballsy to give a five minute soliloquy to Jean-Claude Van Damme, even if the experiment flops. I could heap some praise on Van Damme himself, I suppose. I mean, he is quite good playing the tired loser. I sincerely hope it was just an act. But it's pretty tempting to assume it wasn't. And, as someone once said, every person on Earth has one great performance in him, playing himself.
A pleasant surprise
posted on 09 Jun 2009JCVD is an excellent surprise. It's a kind of dramatic comedy where Jean-Claude Van Damme plays with great conviction his own role in life. This starting postulate, to tell a passage of the life of a movie-star on the decline by the person himself, makes the movie sail between fiction and autobiography. This original and ambiguous concept propels the script in a tasty, funny and tragic reality/fiction realm. One can think sometimes of Pulp Fiction.The famous movie-star, Jean-Claude, is surprisingly right and touching. Van Damme plays here the role of his life, in all the senses of the words. There will be a before and an after JCVD. The central monologue of the film, a rare feat of ingenuity, a long one-shot sequence of the star made up of his doubts and his anguishes, is bound to become a classic.The film is however not perfect. The flashbacks are well carried out but some scenes seen twice can be somewhat long and would have been improved by being shortened a bit the second time around. This saved time would have made it possible to develop the supporting characters, like the police chief, a bit more. Speaking of supporting characters, those are somewhat caricatures and with one dimension.JCVD reveals itself as an excellent surprise. Far from being a hollow marketing ploy, this film, probably the best of Van Damme, is a true success that deserves to be seen.The question now is what will Van Damme do next?
Jean-Claude; The Man, The Myth...
posted on 09 Jun 2009Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as well, Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is down on his luck, stuck in straight to DVD limbo in meaningless action flicks, however when he stumbles upon a robbery and is taken hostage, Jean-Claude Van Damme does some soul searching and re-evaluates his meaning of life. J.C.V.D was the first film I saw in theaters I saw with Van Damme, since Knock Off and this film focuses on the man behind the film. J.C.V.D has a lot to say, in fact one sort of wishes that they hadn't bothered with the robbery subplot, as Van Damme proves such a likable figure and completely vulnerable that one wishes they could've gotten such a performance outside of casting Van Damme as himself. Jean-Claude Van Damme is very impressive, and he somehow manages to send up his action work while remaining three dimensional and insightful. This isn't so much an action flick, so much as it is a man's reality check and on this level it remains utterly fascinating. Van Damme has actually never been that bad of an actor (Seriously, he was an action star but he had presence, and he's way better than Vin Diesel) but here he pulls off something daring, self parodying and brave. In fact given his acting chops here, one could see Van Damme in better character roles. As it stands, it shows us Van Damme at his most self conscious and this is by far very interesting on a visceral level. Admittedly while I'll always enjoy Bloodsport and Kickboxer (And Universal Soldier if i'm honest) more, one can't deny the consistent brilliance of J.C.V.D.* * * out of 4-(Good)
Outstanding film, and not only for Van Damme's performance
posted on 14 May 2009"JCVD" had me at its opening scene. A wildly over-the-top action scene with much typical Van Damme ass-kicking (and accompanied by a Curtis Mayfield tune) is followed by Jean-Claude walking off the set, heading straight for the director, a young, talentless hack, to complain about the filming. The director says to his interpreter in Chinese: "Just because he brought John Woo to Hollywood doesn't mean he can rub my dick with sandpaper", and the interpreter gives a nonsense excuse about how not having a gun preserves the character's integrity. It's funnier than anything in Ben Stiller's industry spoof "Tropic Thunder", and certainly far closer to reality.Thankfully, the rest of the film does not disappoint. The film's conceit is clever: Van Damme's dislike of the films he works on is clear, he's got an awful, typically Hollywood agent (at one point Van Damme asks what he's working on next, to which his agent replies "Feel No Injury, it's about a Vietnam vet who...", Van Damme assures his agent that they shot that film several months ago and his agent responds by looking through his papers and offering a corrected response, "Feel No Injury II, it's about a gulf war vet..."), has basically become a joke and knows it, and is fighting for custody of his daughter. The next step after these establishing scenes is, naturally, to put the 'real' Van Damme in a situation right out of a movie he might have starred in- he gets stuck in the midst of a hostage situation at a bank, while attempting to make a withdrawal to pay his lawyer. The twist? Everyone outside the bank, including the police and a huge crowd of fans, believe he is the one taking the hostages, and in this scenario Van Damme is powerless, unable to just kick and punch his way out of it.Going into the film I had expected an entertaining, slightly angsty meta-narrative about Van Damme in a hostage situation. What I got was something far funnier, far more thrilling and involving, and certainly far more genuinely emotional than the film probably had any right to be. The in-jokes are fun ("if it wasn't for you he'd still be shooting pigeons in Hong Kong", "... well, at least he made 'Face/Off'"), several scenes are genuinely suspenseful, but most surprising of all is that the film features one of the greatest scenes in years: just past the hour mark Van Damme faces the camera and delivers a lengthy soliloquy on why he made the movie, why he decided to take up karate, and expresses his feelings on celebrity, his own image, women, drugs, and Hollywood. It's bordering on ridiculous, but how can anyone laugh when Jean-Claude Van Damme is baring his soul on camera and actually crying? The scene either proves that Van Damme is not as limited an actor as most think he is, or that there was no real acting involved. The cinematography, specifically the lighting, will bother some people but I thought it was quite good, and El Mechri is a fine director, who juggles the comedic and dramatic aspects of the film as well as the thriller side of it successfully. Van Damme's performance is, for my money, the best of the year, challenged only by Clint Eastwood's potential acting farewell in "Gran Torino" and Sean Penn's surprisingly effective turn in "Milk". While I don't expect much agreement, "JCVD" is my second favorite film of 2008 thus far, and one of the most enjoyable viewing experiences I've had in quite some time.
Absolutely Breathtaking...
posted on 06 May 2009I wasn't sure what to think of this movie when I first was shown it by my brother at blockbuster, but after having watched it, I can honestly say that this has changed the way I see movies, movie stars, and life in general.It has a unique style in terms of filming and whatnot, and it's not at all what you'd expect from a Jean Claude movie, but I was stunned nonetheless. It really goes into the life of a movie star (and it's actually factual, at least the bit about the custody battle) outside of movies and how in reality they are just as human as anybody else, sometimes moreso. I wouldn't want to spoil anything, but this movie is definitely worth a watch, it's something you will never regret. A fantastic performance!
Silly And Dull Vanity Project From Van Damme & Co.
posted on 04 May 2009First of all, I think you are all possibly insane. I'm not sure we watched the same movie! This is absolutely, positively the worst Jean Claude Van-Damme movie I have ever seen! It was an endurance test just to sit through it! I understand that it's hard to be on top of the world and fall, but please don't subject me to a ninety-five minute whining session!Usually I cut the guy some slack. He makes some generally entertaining no brainer action pics but this is the pits. The only thing this stinker is successful at is portraying Van-Damme as the biggest p***y in the world! All this woe is me crap grows very tiresome quick.Did anybody notice that the bank robber with the bob haircut looked like a knock off version of John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon?Why do all modern French films seem to give a shout out to Arab Muslims? Is it something to do with the director not wanting his car set on fire?In the movie it is repeatedly stated that Van-Damme brought John Woo to America but fails to mention that his bad prima-donna attitude at the time alienated his co-stars Arnold Vosloo and Lance Henrickson and that he repeatedly disrespected Woo! That's why he's making boring garbage like this instead of good movies.
Van-Damn it's a good movie!
posted on 30 Apr 2009Being a Van-Damme fan since i was a boy of 10 years old, I was going to see this film regardless of any reviews or negative press this film might have received. But i must say, even i was a little surprised at the great quality of this film.I mean, I love all Van Damme's films even his straight to DVD b-grade actioners and so I kinda wasn't really expecting anything that different for this film besides it being in a foreign language. It's a good thing i had no idea what i was getting myself into with this film, because it blew my expectations way out of the water.I'm not going to get into plot details, let's just say it's part biography part "Dog day afternoon". The script was great and the acting brilliant especially from Van Damme! Yes that's right....he CAN act!!! I guess he was really comfortable playing himself which makes a lot of sense but still he brings such conviction and an emotional relevance to this film that it's hard not to believe.Although Van Damme plays himself in this movie and there are a lot of references to his real life, the story is still fictional but very believable. There's no jumping-spinning-split kick in this movie but it sure as hell doesn't need one!I hope this movie does well and I hope it goes to the cinemas too because it really deserves a descent audience reception. Because this is a foreign art-house film of sorts and it stars Van Damme, it is likely to be over looked and ignored by many which is a shame because so many people will be pleasantly surprised by this one. My one and only gripe with this film was that in some scenes the subtitles moved a little too quickly but then again I'm no speed reader!So if you're a Van Damme fan or just a fan of good movies that are a little different, check it out as it won't disappoint.Excellent! Welcome back, Van Damme!!!
A film even non-fans can appreciate.
posted on 28 Apr 2009About the movie: This tender and poetic piece captures the essence of not only it's lead actor but also the town it takes place in, with its saturated dirty streets, its forever grey skies and the people who are so deeply part of the land that they too are unapologetically unrefined in their honesty. The objective of this film is clear and has been reached, yet room was left for humor, in two scenes in particular by means of non-overdone action. Not at all to praise Jean-Claude and his style, but instead to show us what action/violence represents to JCVD. A little redundancy in the flashback scenes pulls you out a bit, but not enough to spoil the enjoyment of the story.About the director: Mabrouk El Mechri has to be a fan for knowing about the many details pertaining to Jean-Claude's personal life invoked very subtly throughout the movie by some of the characters' quotes, actions and mannerisms. It is true that speaking in your native tongue, and about a topic that is also personal, will improve one's acting performance, and what a performance Jean-Claude allows us witness. To meet that objective, Mabrouk El Mechri cleverly let the actors improvise with each other in some scenes.About Jean-Claude: Jean-Claude Van Damme is perceived around the world very differently than in the French speaking community alone. In the latest, by means of many interviews, he is mocked and teased for his ways of expressing his never-ending honesty and vulnerability. It is agreed that his messages and philosophies, however deep and powerful, are undermined by his un-Shakespearian – or unworthy of Molière in this case – delivery. The spirit of this man is so righteous that in order to keep it intact, he is doomed to dig deep and find enough courage to stand against selfish, unkind and quick judgments of the media and the masses. His integrity never cracked is nonetheless shaken. So, in this movie, Jean-Claude Van Damme's struggle is explained by himself beautifully using of the analogy of a pure, virtuous and trusting martial artist child from a humble town who ends up in Los Angeles, a city where deceit is commonplace.
The Muscles From Brussels hustled and bustled in a "real-life" tussle.
posted on 30 Aug 2009Van Damme fans looking forward to viewing this movie as yet another standard Van Damme movie will be in for a mighty shock, this is a world away from the heady, macho delights of movies such as Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Double Impact.What we have here is Van Damme playing a version of himself, a man with money worries, a custody battle to win and numerous personal problems (be they ways of dealing with star-struck fans or the numerous demons he carries around in his own head). When he enters a Belgian post office, desperate to access his cash, and ends up embroiled in a robbery and hostage situation the scene is set for chaos, confusion, introspection and a significant lack of standard Van Damme-age.A bizarre movie and yet a delightful one, JCVD is a strange and mesmerising experience. It's also, it has to be said, revelatory in the way it shows it's star doing actual proper acting type stuff. I doubt that people are about to start throwing awards at The Muscles From Brussels but it's impossible to deny that the man shows layers and depth rarely put on display by standard action stars.The rest of the cast do just as well although there roles require less bravery than Van Damme's. Everyone does well, seemingly enjoying taking part in a cleverly constructed, wittily scripted film with such a great central concept.Insightful and pointed, the film simply uses JCVD's status and career path as a diving off point for looking at showbusiness and fame as a whole, hungry entity and while his path through the movies may be strikingly similar to the paths of others Van Damme should allow himself a pat on the back that only he actually allowed himself to be placed in a film so interesting and original compared to his crash-bang body of work, as should writer director Mabrouk El Mechri.See this if you like: Being John Malkovich, Last Action Hero, A Hard Day's Night.