Movies: Jean-Claude Van Damme Robs a Bank
By Erik Samdahl
So… last week, I messed up. I wrote a glorious article (perhaps the best article ever written in the history of man) about the week’s new releases… unfortunately, I was a week off. So if you want to hear about this week’s U.S. releases, click here. If you want to hear me talk about random things to pass the time, read on.
OK, it won’t be completely random. One movie I didn’t mention last week was JCVD, a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie about himself. Sort of. I had heard of the movie, but that was about it – at least, until I went and saw Zack and Miri Make a Porno – which was hilarious, by the way – and saw the preview for this crazy movie. JCVD, as I found out stood for the actor’s name, is about an actor named – yes, you guessed it – Jean-Claude Van Damme – who has watched his lucrative career as an action star fade into obscurity.
After a series of failures, he falls on financially tough times, and does what any famous, washed-up action star would do: he robs a bank. Or maybe becomes a hostage. I’m not quite sure.
I give Jean-Claude props for doing this movie. If Tom Cruise’s performance in Tropic Thunder is any indication, movie fans love fading stars to do something different and make fun of themselves. JCVD looks to be a good blend of drama and comedy, and could elevate Jean-Claude to a more respectable standing among general audiences. The line where he complains about Steven Seagal getting a role he was trying for is classic, by the way.
JCVD opens in New York City this Friday, but expands over the coming weeks to other venues, including my home: Seattle. Oh, and congrats to Barack Obama! Thank God.
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Erik Samdahl is a movie buff and writes movie reviews for FilmJabber.com, based in Seattle, Washington.
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