Comments on: Film review – JCVD (2008)

By: Paul Martin

Paul Martin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:12:31 +0000

MIFF did a retrospective and I saw 6 of them (I think I missed one). Black Rain is good but A Man Vanishes was my pick of the ones I saw. The Eel is supposed to be one of his best films, but I don't think that was screening. When I mentioned that the sets came down in A Man Vanishes, I perhaps wasn't explicit in connecting that to the JCVD monologue. One gets the sense when Van Damme talks to the camera, that there will be some exposition about what has transpired, and it's unclear what will pass. Both films have the effect of being a minor mind-fuck in this regard. IMO, Imamura's film is the best to tear down the fourth wall. As for your radio co-host, we'll all have different opinions. The film is definitely very clever. That opening sequence synchronised to music was a blast. The film has many strengths; what I liked most was its mixture of humour, action, drama and pathos, the mixture of reality and fiction, and the references to other films.

By: Thomas Caldwell

Thomas Caldwell — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:17:46 +0000

I wasn't in Melbourne (or Australia for that matter) in 2007 so I'm not familiar with A Man Vanishes but I will now track it down - thanks for the recommendation Paul. In fact, I think the only Shōhei Imamura film I've seen is the short he contributed to 11'9''01 September 11. My sister (who is far more on the ball with Japanese cinema, and culture in general, than I am) speaks highly of Black Rain so that's another one I will track down. Anyway, it's great to have two other endorsements for JCVD so thanks for that guys. I was getting worried because when I reviewed it on the radio a couple of weeks ago, my co-host wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about it as I was. I was starting to get worried that I had been too easily impressed but your comments have reinstalled my confidence in my original thoughts. JCVD really is one of the most interesting films doing the rounds at the moment.

By: Paul Martin

Paul Martin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:12:39 +0000

I completely agree with your evaluation, Thomas. That monologue is reminiscent of Shohei Imamura's A Man Vanishes (it screened at MIFF 2007). It tears down the fourth wall, but in a way that is a mind-fuck because you don't know at that moment what is to be made of what we've just seen, or what is to follow. In Imamura's film, the set walls are removed, the film's documentary facade is exposed, and yet the illusion continues, which confounds the audience. The references to Dog Day Afternoon were great, having just watched it recently. The look of that guy was so similar, as well as what happens to him... I think this is one of the best films screening at present, and is refreshingly different even in its derivations without, as you say, falling into parody. It's the best performance from Van Damme, for sure, and I also compare it to Rourke's in The Wrestler.

By: Benicio

Benicio — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:13:07 +0000

I had no idea what it was when I sat down to watch it other than Van Damme trying something more serious.

It was a strange, fun and at times brutally honest look at the life of Van Damme the movie star and Van Damme the man.

I live for odd gems like this.