Cinema rarely punches you in the face with originality these days. Be it re-makes or sequels, or the same films with different titles, it's often stagnated, boring and uninspiring, bar the exceptional re-inventions of genres, such as The Dark Knight. However one of the most unique and dumbfounding films of the year, stars, shockingly, the Muscles from Brussels, Jean Claude Van Damme! As a long time fan of JC's high kicking shenanigans, I've embraced the joy of some switch off the brain, simple carnage. A 360 spinning kick here, a roundhouse there. All good fun, but in truth, with all the depth of a toddlers paddling pool. I like Jean Claude, he's always had expressive eyes, and a kind of hidden promise of a proper actor behind the biceps. He's improved over the years, and in recent years has elevated a few of his straight to video flicks (Wake Of Death and Until Death in particular). Of course these roles weren't exactly brimming with depth, and if anything you get the sense Van Damme moulded the characters far beyond what no doubt was very minimal in the screenplay. Again, these were roles that could only go so far, only offer so much diversity and dimension. In JCVD however, Jean Claude breaks out of the constraints of DTV action spec, in his most challenging role…himself.

This is JC, as himself. A somewhat exaggerated version of himself, that on paper borrows well publicised events from JC's life, has fun with some aspects, but with a real sense of integrity. This isn't strictly auto-biographical, but JC gives such a heartfelt performance. Not only does he create a great movie character but also pours his heart out on screen. The story sees JC at his lowest ebb. He's losing custody of his daughter, struggling for money, suffering from a crisis of identity, and worst of all losing parts for films he doesn't really want to do, but needs the money, to Steven Seagal! A simple trip to the post office, results in Jean Claude being caught up in a robbery, one which he gets blamed for. Hostages expect him to save the day like his movie persona, but in reality JC has the same fears as anyone else, and simply wants to get out alive.

Van Damme's performance, is astonishing. He jumps off the screen and finally manages to be unhindered in what is his first fully formed character. Be it his emotiveness, comedic timing, or poignant delivery of the already famous, and utterly sensational monologue, Van Damme is just right on the money. He doesn't put a foot wrong. Added to this, JC is well supported by a very good cast. This is probably the best cast Van Damme has had to work with. Just good actors, who play off the main man well, and lend him fine support.

Director Mabrouck El Mechri is also a revelation! What a way to announce yourself to the film world. Far and away this is the best direction of any Jean Claude movie. Inventive, coherent, visually arresting, Mechri knows what he wants, knows what he's doing, and delivers. From the magnificent opening long take of Van Damme getting down to the business of making an action film, to the monologue, and everything in between and there-after, Mechri has a sure hand, loaded with imagination and style, without going overboard. He's well aided by a Bastard! That's the unfortunately named Pierre-Yves Bastard, the cinematographer. Elsewhere, the sound design is superb, the film is well edited, and the soundtrack, and score are excellent. In pretty much every department, this is the best I've seen throughout Van Damme's career. It's a cracking film, with clever touches, a witty script, top performances, and brilliant on a technical level. Mechri's obvious admiration for Scorsese, Lumet, Tarantino, amongst others, is clear, but all wrapped up in something very auteur and personal. The film doesn't play out chronologically, but the structure makes sense. Every time there's a time shift, it has a logic to it. It's very well constructed.

Overall, JCVD is an immensely satisfying and entertaining film. Funny, charming, poignant, and for Jean Claude, something very special. He could have a very good career re-birth as a character actor. I really hope he doesn't waste himself in action movies again. As far as the action stars go, this is probably the best performance of anyone since Stallone in Rocky, or Willis in Pulp Fiction. The script by Mechri, Benudis, and Turpin, has allowed an unbiased outside viewpoint to shape the character, while Van Damme's own experience and acting ability, add the extra layers to the fascinating construct. Sensibly Mechri doesn't allow the film to focus too much on the Dog Day Afternoon scenario. It's all about Van Damme, and what a character! *****

There's some word combinations that you simply can't envisage together. "Jean-Claude Van Damme can act" is one of them. Yet, remarkable as it may seem, the Muscles from Brussels turns in a truly career turning performance in JCVD.

Directed and co-written by Mabrouk El Mechri, JCVD manages to capably straddle art house, action and comedy genres as it captivates the viewer by laying bare the soul of the star of such DVD fare as Bloodsport, Streetfighter, and Universal Soldier, to name only a few.

Largely based on his real life troubles, JCVD unfolds as Van Damme retreats to his native Belgium in the wake of a losing child custody battle in a Los Angeles court.

Mounting financial troubles have left our hero with over-maxed plastic and debit cards that no longer yield ATM withdrawals. Forced to tap into his savings reserves, he makes a pit stop at a post office/bank to arrange a money wire transfer to pay his lawyer, only to discover that the bank is in the process of being robbed and he's stuck in the midst of the drama.

To make matters worse, the manner in which things have unfolded has caused authorities and media alike to believe that Van Damme is the mastermind, orchestrating the heist and hostage taking to pay his legal bills.

Segmented into chapters and shown out of sequence, similar to Pulp Fiction, El Mechri manages to deftly juggle laughs and tension to deliver a film that uniquely straddles several genres, including breaking the "fourth wall" with an eight-minute long monologue in the film's third act that sees the muscle-bound Belgian recap, with painful tear-inducing pain, his life of cheesy movies, women and drugs.

Think of Dog Day Afternoon in which Pacino gets to speak to the audience and lay his soul bare and you've got an idea of what's in store with JCVD, which, if there's any justice, will do for Van Damme's career what Tarantino did for Travolta's. Especially now that we know JCVD can act.

Boy, did this film catch me by surprise--especially considering that of my over 7000 reviews this is one of the only action films I have ever commented on, as it's a genre has never really interested me. Somehow this film managed to say and do something different--something that transcends this often clichéd and predictable style of film.

In some ways, this film is a lot like DIE HARD and DOG DAY AFTERNOON with a very strange twist--a very, very, very strange twist! The twist is that the hero in this film is Jean-Claude Van Damme and he plays himself! How much of this is truly biographical, I cannot say, but much of it is. In the film, he's 47 years-old, tired and fighting one of his many ex-wives for custody of his daughter--much like the real-life Van Damme.

The film begins with Van Damme in Brussels and two video store workers see him and ask for a photo. Van Damme obliges but tells them he needs to hurry to the post office. For those unfamiliar with Post Offices in Belgium, they are a combination post office and bank, so the fact that people are in the midst of robbing it when he arrives makes a little more sense. In the States, for example, no sane robber would normally rob a post office, as they don't have that much money on hand.

Amazingly, through a series of coincidences, the police are convinced that it's Van Damme who is robbing the bank! Instantly, the story is on the news everywhere and people have just assumed that Van Damme, who's life is a bit of a mess, has just "flipped out" and taken the people in the post office hostage! There's a lot more to the film than this, as all this happens in just the first few minutes of the film, but because I don't want to ruin it I won't divulge more.

What is particularly unusual about this film is that it is violent and tense...yet it also has a nice tongue-in-cheek sense of humor--but not so obviously funny that the film becomes a parody or self-mocking. It actually keeps a nice balance in this regard. Some of the clever little bits are the flashback with the John Woo-type director, the robber who insisted on making Van Damme perform one of his movie stunts...or else, the rude and horrid cabbie who treats poor Van Damme pretty awfully, the comment by one of the people early in the film about how "he's awfully short in real life" as well as the time when the cabbie says he's "a lot better looking in the movies"!! You can't help but feel sorry for the guy! I also liked that in the film Van Damme wasn't perfect, was more human and didn't have all the answers. Some action heroes (who I won't mention) probably wouldn't allow themselves to be this vulnerable--so much so that you have no idea if he'll even survive by the end of the movie. I loved this because when you see a Rambo or Steven Seagal movie, you KNOW that by the end the hero will triumph and good will reign supreme. Here in JCVD, you are never sure. This really helped add to the suspense.

Another exceptional but strange thing about the film is that, occasionally, it became surreal and stepped out of itself, so to speak. For instance, towards the climax, suddenly you see Van Damme's chair rise---up, up, up through the ceiling and into the set's lighting system. Here, all alone, he suddenly begins talking in a soliloquy all to himself about his life, his existence, his regrets, etc.--sort of like Hamlet! No one can actually see or hear this--it's occurring in his mind but the way it's carried out is really bizarre and exciting. Some of the soliloquy fell a tad flat, but later, Van Damme shocked me because man could he act--I mean REALLY act. Crying and emoting and making me marvel at his ability to do more than just kick the snot out of people! Additionally, near the very end, you see Van Damme become the action hero you'd expect....and then you realize this is only his fantasy for how it SHOULD occur! Brilliant.

Another nice but very unusual aspect of the film is that it is told in a non-linear fashion. After the first 20 minutes or so, the film backs up and tells the story again but from a different perspective. Additionally, the film has flashbacks and you never really are 100% sure of the time line---and this works very well.

This film nearly earned a 10 from me though there were two minor problems I noticed. One wasn't that big a deal but the scene with the almost naked cops happened so fast that it was hard to see exactly what was happening. Another, and more serious problem, was the epilogue--it just didn't make any sense at all. But, considering how brilliant the film had been up until then, I could live with this.

Overall, very tense, exceptionally well written, acted and directed and a truly novel and entertaining film. Some may be put off by the violence, but it's really toned down compared to many action films and the violence is necessary for the plot. Not a film for kids, but otherwise a film that I highly recommend.