jcvd
[[jcvd]] last edit on
Mar 15, 2009
12:18 AM
by Anonymous
The film in which Jean Claude Van Damme plays himself. I was expecting something a bit wackier but this is for the most part quite a serious drama.
It's really pretty good as well. It shows that JCVD can actually act. Or at least be himself in front of a camera, maybe. Exactly how much it has in common with his actual life I'm not sure. According to Wikipedia it is quite similar.
The movie has a strange kind of realism. Getting away from the over the top nature of JCVD's old films by having very muted colours. Perhaps showing the drab nature of his normal life.
Most of the film is set in the bank where he goes to try and get some money but ends up being part of a heist and hostage situation. Naturally this features none of the typical heroics that he would normally do in his films but he does try to play his part in looking after the hostages. Outside the bank the police think he's the one holding the hostages and the robbers themselves force Van Damme to do the negotiating as if he is the one in charge.
But just over an hour in he gives an incredible monologue to the camera which is really stunning. It feels very honest some of things he says about his life in this segment and makes him a very sympathetic character. It's not something you can really describe as it's just something you have to see. I'm sure it's on youtube somewhere but it would ruin it if it's taken out of context. You have to witness his struggles earlier in the film to see where it's coming from.
It's a film very much about people's perceptions of him and other celebrities. Pointing out that they are very much people too. Just because they are famous doesn't mean they have greater immunity to the failings of the average person. It portrays Van Damme as a caring person who just wants a happy life but got sucked into the fame game. You can help feel sorry for him.
It's a great film and if you have any interest in Van Damme the person you should definitely see it. I think I'll probably buy the DVD and hope that Van Damme does some more French language stuff that shows off his more serious side of acting.
back to film reviews
It's really pretty good as well. It shows that JCVD can actually act. Or at least be himself in front of a camera, maybe. Exactly how much it has in common with his actual life I'm not sure. According to Wikipedia it is quite similar.
The movie has a strange kind of realism. Getting away from the over the top nature of JCVD's old films by having very muted colours. Perhaps showing the drab nature of his normal life.
Most of the film is set in the bank where he goes to try and get some money but ends up being part of a heist and hostage situation. Naturally this features none of the typical heroics that he would normally do in his films but he does try to play his part in looking after the hostages. Outside the bank the police think he's the one holding the hostages and the robbers themselves force Van Damme to do the negotiating as if he is the one in charge.
But just over an hour in he gives an incredible monologue to the camera which is really stunning. It feels very honest some of things he says about his life in this segment and makes him a very sympathetic character. It's not something you can really describe as it's just something you have to see. I'm sure it's on youtube somewhere but it would ruin it if it's taken out of context. You have to witness his struggles earlier in the film to see where it's coming from.
It's a film very much about people's perceptions of him and other celebrities. Pointing out that they are very much people too. Just because they are famous doesn't mean they have greater immunity to the failings of the average person. It portrays Van Damme as a caring person who just wants a happy life but got sucked into the fame game. You can help feel sorry for him.
It's a great film and if you have any interest in Van Damme the person you should definitely see it. I think I'll probably buy the DVD and hope that Van Damme does some more French language stuff that shows off his more serious side of acting.
back to film reviews