JCVD (2008)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Strong and Moving!

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Without a doubt the most atypical film in the actor's long career, JCVD sees Van Damme playing himself, caught up in an unlikely spiral of events in a small Belgium town. This little, low-budget, self-referencing film ended up becoming a darling of the critics, with many declaiming it as Van Damme's best (they were chagrined when he went back to making action knock-offs straight after). It's a film that fans of the star will undoubtedly enjoy, although others might just find it a little passé.The plot is nothing new: the story of an ill-thought-out post office robbery that quickly turns into a hostage situation, complete with a media frenzy outside, is as old as the hills and has been done better in the past. The low budget is evident throughout and El Mechri's direction weaves between overdone attempts at style and some decent tracking shots (the opening sequence is certainly visually arresting). The music is overblown and the supporting cast do the job without ever being great. Still...This film belongs to Van Damme himself. He's at his best when winking at himself, playing a tired, messed-up star who found himself thrown in at the deep end in Hollywood, blew it all on drugs and fame and is now trying his best to keep clean and make ends meet for his estranged family members. His acclaimed five minute monologue to the camera is by far the best thing in the film and the best Van Damme has been as an actor; he's likable and deeply flawed here, a thoroughly interesting creation. How much of it is what he's like in real life is difficult to say, but it's clear that the version of Van Damme we see on film here is very close to the real one.In terms of pacing, the film starts off very slow and disjointed but hits the mark around the forty-minute mark. There are a few scenes of excitement along the way and a couple of high-kicks from the action hero, but those looking for thrills should go elsewhere. JCVD is as close to an art-house film as the martial arts actor is ever going to get: a knowing, post-modern look at the life of a fallen star.

JCVD (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a struggling B-movie action actor trying to maintain some artistic integrity despite everyone around him. He has custody problems and returned from family court in LA. He has been sleepless for 2 days. He goes into the bank and shots ring out. He's taken hostage but the cops think that he's the hostage taker.JCVD shows some acting chop or he's tapping into his inner self. It's so fascinating that he is such a mess. It's also a mess that isn't unrealistic. There is a bit of action but that's not the heart of this movie. It is to watch JCVD break down his public image and then break down his character. The movie could use an A-list actor to be the bad guy as his foil. Nevertheless this is one of the greatest performance from JCVD ever.

Instead, drop whatever you're doing, run straight to the website, kiosk, or store of your choosing, and rent or buy yourself a copy of JCVD.The less you know about this movie before watching it, the better. In fact, if you found this review you probably already know too much. Even if you've only seen JCVD's "Epic Split" commercial for Volvo Trucks on the interwebs, you've still seen too much! I've tried to make this review as spoiler-free as possible. If you need convincing to watch the movie, read on, but I hope you'll just trust me and watch it first.I saw JCVD a few weeks ago and it is still in my consciousness - it's the most thought-provoking and entertaining movie I've seen in a long, long time.Before I saw JCVD, if you had asked me which of "The Expendables" actors I related to the most (liked, respected, enjoyed their movies, whatever), I would have said Stallone or Statham. For the record, I was 16 years old when "Rambo: First Blood Part II" came out, so 80s action flicks were an integral part of my youth, but I still probably wouldn't have thought to mention Van Damme (I remember "TimeCop" mainly because of my crush on Mia Sara).Now, without question, if you asked me which action star from the last 3 decades I respect the most, I'd answer Jean-Claude Van Damme - that's how much this movie affected me. JCVD the movie is of course about JCVD the man, but it's much more than that. Convincing my friends to watch it was a tough sell: It's not an action movie, so fans expecting lots of high-kicking stunts will be at least somewhat - though not completely - disappointed. It's filmed in a sepia tone so if you can't stand black-and-white movies you might be turned off. And you better speak French or get ready to read subtitles, because English is definitely this film's secondary language.But you owe it to yourself to overcome these minor obstacles and watch this movie from start to finish.I won't spoil the plot - it deserves to be unspoiled. The story unfolds in a slightly non-chronological sequence. You might be tempted to rewind to figure out if you missed something (I did), but if you hang in there it shouldn't be necessary. Once you understand what's happening it's pretty straightforward and moves at a somewhat relaxed pace - critics might say "too relaxed" given the subject matter.But there are a few things that made me absolutely love this movie:First, so many of the scenes were surprisingly thought-provoking - they had me thinking about movies and real life at the same time. The movie is an excellent meta-commentary on celebrity, reality, and courage. For example, I would ask myself "Why doesn't JCVD just beat the stuffing out of that guy?" then I remembered, "This is supposed to be JCVD in the real world, not the fantasy world of stunt doubles". Then I would ask myself "But couldn't the real JCVD still just beat the stuffing out of that guy?" Then I thought "Maybe he isn't as tough as his persona" or "Maybe he only honed his skills in competitions, not street fights". Then I thought to myself "Even if he is that tough, perhaps he knows his limits and knows that this situation is too difficult for him to resolve", or "Maybe he knows that acting boldly could endanger others" or "Maybe he is just plain scared and tired and has other things on his mind and can't be the hero today".Second, I'm not the only one thinking these things - the characters in the movie are thinking them also. They all have their own expectations and impressions of JCVD - some of them misinformed - and these shape the film in comical, emotional, and unexpected ways. I was especially moved by the woman in the post office who is more interested in commenting on JCVD's parenting skills than his fighting skills.Finally, it is Jean-Claude's soliloquy toward the end that elevates the film to true greatness. Like the rest of the film, it artfully intertwines real life with a story about real life. It's cleverly clear that JCVD is breaking the fourth wall, but I still got the feeling that he is not only sharing an inner monologue with the audience but also pleading for understanding from his fellow postal customers.This is the part where you realize that Jean-Claude is asking exactly the same questions of himself that the other characters and the audience are asking of him, and he's just as unsure of the real answer. You'd probably have to know JCVD pretty well to find the dividing line - if there is one - between fiction and reality in this scene. I don't remember whether the soliloquy was in English or French. I just know that it reminded me of mistakes I've made in my own life (minus the bulging muscles, fame, and success) and it rang very true.I'm willing to bet that someone at Volvo Trucks' ad agency saw this movie and realized the emotional impact of JCVD's soliloquy when imagining their brilliant "Epic Split" commercial.I won't spoil the ending for you either. Some critics found it unbelievable and unlikely - I found it unlikely but still very believable, and I thought it fit the overall theme of the movie very well.Weeks after seeing this movie, I still can't believe that The Muscles from Brussels made me cry by kicking me in the heart with his words.

Who would have thought it? Jean-Claude Van Damme in a post-modern meta-movie (at least that's what I think they call this kind of thing) in which he plays himself with brutal honesty as an ageing action star caught up in a real-life hostage situation. And who would have thought that it could possibly be this good?Not me, that's for sure, but here it is, JCVD, a brilliantly original film starring the Muscles from Brussels as we've never seen him before—as a believable human being—one with real-life problems and a troubled past who has absolutely no desire to get himself killed when confronted by desperate gun-toting criminals.With the Belgian superstar playing Van Damme the man rather than Van Damme the action hero, making this film is a gamble, one that risks alienating the star's existing fan-base due to a lack of slam-bang Van Damage, but hopefully it will earn him their respect—and the respect of movie-goers in general—as a bold performer willing to try something a little out of the ordinary.Told in a non-linear fashion by director Mabrouk El Mechri, this tense, funny and dramatic movie is filmed in French with subtitles, with improvised scenes of dialogue and an amazing monologue by the star that proves he can really act, all of which may even have cinema-snobs sitting up and taking note.In taking such a daring role in such a unique movie, by portraying himself as a man with flaws and weaknesses, and by acknowledging his mistakes, Jean-Claude has certainly become an even greater hero than ever before in the eyes of this particular fan.