The Hong Kong directors he once championed don't respect him anymore. He's got a custody battle. He's got money troubles. And arriving in Brussels jetlagged and being hassled for his celebrity, he wanders into a post office only to find himself in the middle of a robbery and hostage taking.
On the outside the cops think Van Damme has gone bad, while the robbers are amused about the action hero in their midst who is helpless against their guns.
And that's when it gets really interesting with director El Mechri shifting perspectives on the hostage crisis, while also saying something about the strange sadness of fading fame.
Actually, Van Damme says most of that in a long confessional and existential monologue in which he literally levitates out of the film and holds forth on his life and career.
The star beating up on himself is more riveting than anything he's ever done to his foes.
Yes, it begs your indulgence and with so many meta-things to do, it can't hope to sustain any sort of suspense as the
Dog Day Afternoon
-tribute heist film it also so clearly wants to be.
But it's funny, sad, poignant and Van Damme's best movie, ever. No, that's not saying much but it will bring a whole new perspective to future viewings of
Bloodsport 5
or
Universal Soldier 7
.
Russell Baillie
Cast:
Jean Claude Van Damme
Director:
Mabrouk El Mechri
Rating:
M (violence, offensive language)
Running time:
96 mins (subtitles)
