Java_Joe Jean-Claude Van Damme was never a huge movie star. He was known for cheap B-movies that showed off his abilities as a former champion kickboxer. They had a lot of fights, him doing the splits and trying to speak English.Most of them are forgettable. Bloodsport springs to mind as one of his better movies. But while he was known, he wasn't really considered an actor. That is, until now.He puts in a genuinely touching performance as a semi-fictionalized version of himself going through a bit of a mid-life crisis and seeing his world slowly crumbling around him. There's a nasty divorce, it shows his past where he was doing cocaine, he's going broke and the only way to live is to continue making bad B-movies. Even his daughter is ashamed of him because she gets teased a lot in school simply for having his last name.What follows is an interesting plot and some extremely well done acting by the Muscles from Brussels. It's not just a stupid martial-arts movie. It's his life.

Leofwine_draca Without a doubt the most atypical film in the actor's long career, JCVD sees Van Damme playing himself, caught up in an unlikely spiral of events in a small Belgium town. This little, low-budget, self-referencing film ended up becoming a darling of the critics, with many declaiming it as Van Damme's best (they were chagrined when he went back to making action knock-offs straight after). It's a film that fans of the star will undoubtedly enjoy, although others might just find it a little passé.The plot is nothing new: the story of an ill-thought-out post office robbery that quickly turns into a hostage situation, complete with a media frenzy outside, is as old as the hills and has been done better in the past. The low budget is evident throughout and El Mechri's direction weaves between overdone attempts at style and some decent tracking shots (the opening sequence is certainly visually arresting). The music is overblown and the supporting cast do the job without ever being great. Still...This film belongs to Van Damme himself. He's at his best when winking at himself, playing a tired, messed-up star who found himself thrown in at the deep end in Hollywood, blew it all on drugs and fame and is now trying his best to keep clean and make ends meet for his estranged family members. His acclaimed five minute monologue to the camera is by far the best thing in the film and the best Van Damme has been as an actor; he's likable and deeply flawed here, a thoroughly interesting creation. How much of it is what he's like in real life is difficult to say, but it's clear that the version of Van Damme we see on film here is very close to the real one.In terms of pacing, the film starts off very slow and disjointed but hits the mark around the forty-minute mark. There are a few scenes of excitement along the way and a couple of high-kicks from the action hero, but those looking for thrills should go elsewhere. JCVD is as close to an art-house film as the martial arts actor is ever going to get: a knowing, post-modern look at the life of a fallen star.

Mr-Fusion The idea of a (once) movie star offering himself up for mockery and self-deprecation is interesting on so many levels, especially when it's a story of said wash-out being swallowed up in a takeover incident. Give Van Damme credit for being a good sport for this. More importantly, he proves himself here as an actor. On that basis alone, "JCVD" deserves your attention.That said, the movie eventually settles into a groove that becomes a rut. That bank scenes are never as good as the sweet opening action extravaganza, or the time-out Van Damme takes late in the game to address the audience. It's during these two scenes that the movie really hits those high notes. But then it's back to the grinding hostage stuff.6/10

JoaoPovoaMarinheiro I was kind of curious on seeing this movie, after reading about it. I thought it would be something different from the 'kick-ass-pointless-action' stereotypes performed by former Karate champion Jean-Claude Van Damme - and it really up-leveled my expectations.Jean-Claude Van Damme is the main star in this film, delivering the best performance in his 'average' career. He does a very comfortable role, filled with some touching dramatic moments that stunningly convince the spectator. The monologue scene for example, not only reveals his skills as an actor as well as some dark details of what seems to be his personal life.Mabrouk El-Mechri handles us a confident direction and writing, specially focusing on a personal side instead of JCVD as an actor, as well as approaching his charisma in Belgium.This is Van Damme emotionally naked, reborn and suiting in a very powerful role. I just hope we have the chance of seeing more from him in this shape...