JCVD (2008)

Gritty. Sincere. Van Damme. (GSVD)

Final Verdict: Believe it or not, this film is actually pretty good. The general plot revolves around an A-typical bank heist, nothing new or original there, but it serves as a platform to show the personal and career life of Jean-Claude Van Damme. Surprisingly, it all comes across as very sincere and believeable, not to mention humble and down-to-earth. There's even a six minute, one-take shot of a Van Damme monolouge where the actor actually breaks down the fourth-wall and speaks with the audience about himself, his lovelife, and his mistakes. Van Damme's also not afraid to poke fun at himself, which is remarkably refreshing in this day and age. The directing by rookie Mabrouk El Mechri is innovative and artistic, and the cinematography is gritty, dark, and edgy; I can't wait to see more from this team. Overall, JCVD is one of Van Damme's best films, and it will be interesting to see whether or not it actually stands the test of time (unlike the myriad of other forgettable martial arts films he's produced in the past).

Spoiler(s): Jean Claude Van Damme's real name, not his stage name, is Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg. My mind IS blown.

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
"It's not my fault if I was cut out to be a star. I asked for it. I asked for it, really believed in it. When you're 13, you believe in your dream. Well it came true for me. But I still ask myself today what I've done on this Earth. Nothing! I've done nothing!"
-Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg