Review of JCVD (2008) by Matthew M — 15 Jun 2012
This movie is hard to describe. One thing's for sure: Van Damme gives a tour de force performance. His speech 2/3 of the way through is one of the best I've ever seen. It's remarkable. It helps, of course, if you understand French and don't have to rely on the iffy subtitles. The film itself is strange - at times brilliant, at other times clumsy. For the most part, it's surprisingly realistic. The dialogue and action are delivered in fits, with lots of confusion and messiness - much as one might expect if this were a real situation. Only the Julian Richings-looking Zinedine Soualem hit a sour note with me. Just a bit too over-the-top in the bad guy role.
The film plays off Van Damme's celebrity very effectively. If you are a fan, or at least can appreciate the sort of career and lifestyle the man has led, it's hard to believe you would not see the humour or have your heartstrings pulled. Recommended for film buffs - highly recommended to fans of the Muscles from Brussels. The execution may be a bit awkward at times, but Van Damme's surprisingly poignant performance more than makes up for it. Let the story take a back seat and just enjoy the ride.
This review of JCVD (2008) was written by Matthew M on 15 Jun 2012.
JCVD has generally received positive reviews.
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