There was a lot of talk about “JCVD” back at TIFF and we missed it. We’ve never really dug deep for this film and had no clue what it was about. We figured it’d be a documentary, but apparently the flick is like a self-deprecating action comedy that pokes fun of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s tough-guy status. Who knew the actor was so self-aware and crafty, let alone aware of what being meta is?
“If the goal with the self-reflective ‘JCVD’ was to recreate the public image of aging action star Jean Claude Van Damme, then you may consider that mission a success,” wrote Todd Brown at Twitch in early September. “If the goal was to announce to the world that sophomore feature director Mabrouk El Mechri is a truly world class talent, then you may also consider that mission a success. If the goal was to skewer celebrity obsessed culture while laying out the toll it takes on those on the receiving end of the idol worship, then – yep – that’s another one in the success column.”
Synopsis: Being Jean-Claude Van Damme is tough. Sure, he is an internationally recognized celebrity (and possibly the world’s most famous Belgian), but this star seems to have fallen from grace with a recent history of direct-to-video flicks. But the “Muscles from Brussels” is back! In JCVD, Van Damme plays himself – with all his foibles in plain view – in this comeback story of a screen hero who has been on the receiving end of kicks that are getting harder and harder to take. Directed by Mabrouk El Mechri, ‘JCVD’ is a rollicking action-comedy that explores the nature of fame.
“JCVD” is set for release on November 7th 2008 via PeaceArch. This we need probably need to witness firsthand.
