JCVD
http://www.jcvd-themovie.com/
This is my favorite film in recent memory. No, it is not the technical marvel that gains critical attention, or the high profile film that garners award mention, but this to me is the rawest, most probing, and purest entertainments I have seen in quite some time. Currently, The Wrestler and its star Mickey Rourke are getting showered with acclaim for the “true to life” portrayal of a fallen star in search of redemption. JCVD dwarfs that film. The Wrestler is quite good, but its power lies almost entirely in the hands of Mickey Rourke’s performance and the title character, which has many shared circumstances to Rourke’s experience; unfortunately the rest of the film’s contrivance nearly undermines the buoyancy of Rourke’s portrayal. But where JCVD exceeds that accomplishment is in asking the actor, Jean Claude Van Damme, to portray himself. There is no character or chosen genre to hide behind. The story is fictional, yes. But, after two viewings, I am amazed by the wrenching emotion of a fictional situation starring a known personality. JCVD succeeds in humanizing an action star, a fallen action star that has become to many a punchline. On top of that, it is drenched in cinematic style. The film is an homage to some of cinema’s greatest works: Sunset Boulevard, The Battle of Algiers, and certainly Dog Day Afternoon. No, this film does not capture the quality of those aforementioned. Nevertheless, this film is a revelation. A true original. This is a B-movie, and it is entirely self-aware. I realize I have heaped praise that may distort your view and I beg your pardon. But I am not doing it for a headline nor for publicity. I am doing it to share the joy and excitement this film brought to me. I love the movies, and I am so disillusioned by the dispassion and commercialism instilled by film-marketing that I spend less and less time at the movies, and even less time watching films at home. It is a phenomenon that saddens me, yet I feel it sharpens my appreciation. These days I am elated by simply being able to enjoy a movie, an experience that was at one time nearly quotidien to me. It is harder and harder for me to feel that joy, yet once found the pleasure is in greater measure. JCVD is a terrific film. Do not see it as a punchline. I watched it with a sold out crowd on a 15 degree February evening. The crowd was energized, demonstrative, engaged, and vocal. When is the last time you experienced that at the movies? When is the last time you went to the movies?
This has always been one of my favorite films. It is still mesmerizing to me how film, like a painting or sculpture, a piece of music or a novel, can create such a profound impression and then, over time, despite the initial impact, come back and beguile you once more. Tonight I saw this film for the first time in many years and for the first time ever on a screen, and it was a powerful experience I shall never forget. I will remember the weather, the surroundings, my mood going in. All of this is due to being struck by the graceful eminence of style and storytelling. The attached review does give away too many plot points and was clearly written by someone for whom English is not their first language, but if you are so inclined and have the opportunity, see this film. It will make an impression. 