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One of the Best
Performances of 2008? Surely not?
Here is one of the most daringly original
and fascinating films of 2008. "JCVD"
definitely has some flaws, but manages to
overcome them with unique cinematography,
unconventional direction, a witty
screenplay, and a superb performance in the
lead role. Yeah -- I said it.
This film tips its
cap to the classic seventies heist flick,
"Dog Day Afternoon", on more than one
occasion. It is essentially a
stand-off, set in a small town Belgian
post-office / bank, between the authorities
and the real-life Jean Claude Van Damme.
The cops mistakenly think that JCVD,
struggling with financial troubles, has held
up the joint to pay for his daughter's
custody battle. The truth is that JCVD
has stumbled across an ongoing heist and is
being used as a pawn by the actual
criminals.
This nifty little
film takes all sorts of twists and turns as
Van Damme self-deprecatingly skewers his own
image over and over again. There is
even a moment when the lead character breaks
the fourth wall and addresses the viewers
with a poignant soliloquy about the mistakes
in his life and career. That scene is
one of the most memorable and remarkable
cinematic moments of 2008. Jean Claude
Van Damme proves that he can be a terrific
actor when given a chance. This is a
career "redefining" role that utterly
changes my opinion of the man. He
should be up for award consideration -- yes,
even an Oscar.
There are times when
this movie lingers on scenes for too long.
It has trouble filling the 90-minutes.
However, it deserves your attention for a
handful of virtuoso scenes that make it one
of the freshest efforts of the year.
"JCVD" is surprising. It is bold.
It is deep. It is AWARE!
©
Written by TC Candler
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