JCVD User Reviews

I viewed this film at a theater on a tiny screen but I never took my eyes off it. The cinematography was great; it had a vintage pigeonhole aesthetic. Was I looking through Van Damme’s memories? I noticed the lack of special effects and felt the goading remorse of the main character-forced to deal with the consequences of his life choices. He was over-worked and down on his luck. In times like these in which we live - it was raw and believable; I was captivated. The story is not new (robbers, hostages, etc.) but the Van Damme factor intertwined in it was shocking. He (even with French sub-titles) delivers a Tour de Force performance quite unlike what I’d seen before. JCVD is not made for children; it’s for “us” the eighties crowd. We all grew up with this guy. In one scene Van Damme floats while seated and delivers a soliloquy. I thought to myself at that moment that perhaps he had just achieved his greatest theatrical feat: a chance to really act. If I had power, Van Damme would get the Oscar nod. Don’t miss this one. Welcome back JCVD!

12/19/2008, 10:27 am