Tag: JCVD

Van Damme Talks ‘The Expendables’

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Jean-Claude Van Damme recently sat down with totalfilm.com and went into why he turned down a role in Sylvester Stallone’s latest film, ‘The Expendables’.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Stallone gave me a part in his next movie,” he told us. “But I ask him about the subject, about the story.”

“He said, ‘You’re gonna make lots of money.’ I don’t want to hear that, I want to hear what was my character.   He was unable to tell what it’s going to be.”

“[Stallone said:] ‘You know, uh, well, the fighting will be good.’ [So I said:] ‘Sly, what is my character?’ So I didn’t do the movie.”

It sounds like either Van Damme is really turning into the “character” he played in ‘JCVD’ or that aspect of the film is really the way he views the films he chooses to be in.   Either way, it’s kind of impressive to hear Van Damme would turn down a part in Stallone’s latest film due to there not being much of a character involved.

Of course, this doesn’t bode well for people looking forward to ‘The Expendables’.   Evidently Jason Statham and Jet Li don’t have any qualms with a lack of character in the roles they choose.

‘The Expendables’ is set for release some time in 2010.

Source: Total Film

Local Flavor: ‘JCVD’ STL Screening this Weekend!

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Heads Up, fellow Movie Geeks livin’ in The Lou! Just when you thought you’d be forced to await seeing Jean Claude Van Damme’s awesome new movie ‘JCVD’ on DVD, Webster University Film Series presents a three night screening this weekend. It’s like winning the lottery… almost!

This French meta-action flick has garnered acclaim around the world. In it, big-time action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a version of himself: as an out-of-luck actor, out of money and in the midst of an ugly custody battle. JCVD returns to his childhood home of Brussels: where he’s still considered a national icon. A series of events finds him in the middle of a hostage situation where the police believe Van Damme is responsible for the crime. As the events are played from different perspectives, Van Damme finds himself acting as a hero to protect the hostages, as well as a negotiator as the presumed perpetrator. Van Damme is forced to play a different kind of hero by accepting responsibility for crimes he didn’t commit and the life mistakes that he made. In French with English subtitles. — WUFS

Details of this event are below:

Weekend, February 6, 7 & 8 at 7PM
JCVD (Mabrouk El Mechri, 2007, France, 96 min.)

For more information go to: Webster University Film Series

Admission is $6 for the general public, $5 for seniors, students from other
schools and Webster alumni, and $4 for Webster University staff and faculty
unless otherwise noted. All films screened in Moore Auditorium on the campus
of Webster University, 470 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO unless noted.

Van Damme wants a true ‘Bloodsport’ sequel!

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Jean Claude Van Damme’s first starring role was in ‘Bloodsport’ and is immediately made him into an international action star. One would imagine this would lead to a slew of sequels, and it did, but Van Damme had nothing to do with them and they didn’t have the same appeal as the original. So, there’s some news coming from TotalFilm.com and it has both good and bad sides.

In a recent interview with TotalFilm.com, Van Damme divulged that he really wants to do a “true” sequel to ‘Bloodsport’. He elaborated that he’s interested in telling a more mature story about the fighter, now older, perhaps even that he’s abusing his son. Does this sound bad? Personally, I say go for it! I admire filmmakers who choose to tackle “controversial” subject matter, such as Kevin Bacon who does it repeatedly.

I really enjoyed ‘Bloodsport’ and think Van Damme is a great action star, but ever since I saw ‘JCVD‘ I have had a whole new level of respect for him as an actor and a storyteller. ‘JCVD’ shows what Van Damme is truly made of when given the opportunity and reminds me of Rourke’s incredible comeback performance in ‘The Wrestler’. I fully support him returning to his first starring role and making it into something more than just a shallow action movie character.

So, what’s the bad side? You could probably guess, but it’s the fact that Van Damme is experiencing heavy resistance from the studio, who feels his story idea is too dark and is inappropriate. Check out this great little snippet from Van Damme’s interview, talking about the studio’s reaction:

“They told me, ‘No, no, no! You cannot make a movie in America where a father is abusing his son physically! It’s wrong.”

“And you cannot be a guy on drugs doing karate and shit like that.’ I said, ’Why? Why? Tell me why.’

“It’s against the rules of success. But I believe the other rules of success. To show something real.†

[source: TotalFilm.com]

JCVD starts kicking ass on November 7th!

I covered this film a couple of months ago but it is finally making its appearance here in the states, beginning with a limited release on November 7th. It is getting pretty rave reviews from the festival circuit and it looks like a really fun – and funny – movie.

Let’s check out the trailer…

JCVD Trailer