'JCVD (2008)' is a bit of an odd beast, similar to - but not the same as - the more recent 'Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016)'. Van Damme plays a version of himself that doesn't seem too far from the truth, while the movie itself makes a point of being both absurdly funny and calmly tragic. This is, in a way, both its strength and its weakness. At times, it feels unique and, almost, poignant but it never gets a grip on its tone, flitting from daft to dark fairly frequently. It seems like a deeply personal piece for its star, to the point that I'm surprised it didn't originate with him. One part that did, from what I can tell, is the late-game monologue, in which 'JC' rises above the 'stage' to deliver a raw, impressively-acted six-minute speech directly down the barrel of the lens. What this achieves isn't quite clear, though it's easily the most moving moment of the movie. The film-making itself is fairly standard 'digital realism' stuff. Its cinematography is strange, however, as it's often over-exposed and oddly green, which clashes with the otherwise naturalistic aesthetic. While its chronology is never exactly detrimental, it does occasionally distract from the experience as you're not exactly sure when certain scenes are supposed to take place. This becomes clear quite quickly, though, and the benefits of its non-linear structure just about outweigh the negatives. Also, the opening scene does a good job of easing you into world and, for as tumultuous as it is, tone of the flick. Generally, this is an entertaining time. It's not quite cohesive but at least it's trying something. Just make sure you get hold of the subtitled version. 6/10
Review of JCVD
