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Amazon.co.uk Review
Leading man Daniel Craig apparently made Flashbacks of a Fool (he was also one of the executive producers) in between stints as James Bond, and you can see why he was attracted to it; Joe Scott, the character he portrays in this film, could hardly be less like the suave, ever-resourceful 007. Ensconced in a fab, oceanfront Malibu crib, Joe is a movie star on the skids. Hooked on coke and drink, engaging in group gropes with dumb Hollywood bimbos, he’s sunk so low that his sassy assistant (Eve) calls him "a disgrace to white folks," and even his agent is sick of him, which is somewhat akin to a parasite dissing its host (it’s a measure of writer-director Baillie Walsh’s script’s lack of depth that we never really see what made Joe so great in the first place, or so bad now). When a call comes that a childhood friend has died, Joe decides to return to his native England for the funeral, whereupon an extended flashback kicks in. Young Joe (Harry Eden), it seems, was as randy and hopelessly naïve as a lot of teenage boys. Though he had the hots for the sexiest young thang in town (a coastal village that’s as lovely in its way as the California setting, both of them handsomely photographed by cinematographer John Mathieson; the locations, in fact, are probably the most attractive element of the film), he also wasn’t immune to the advances of Evelyn (Jodhi May), the older married woman who lives next door. And when a tragedy involving Evelyn’s daughter struck while she and Joe were in flagrante, Joe handled it by leaving town, never to return--until now, that is. --Sam Graham
Synopsis
Flashbacks of a Fool is the story of a jaded--and ultimately faded--Hollywood star, Joe Scott (Daniel Craig); a man whose life has spiraled out of control through drug dependency and a totally hedonistic lifestyle. With an indifferent public outside, Scott leads a lonely life inside his sprawling Malibu home and through a series of flashbacks, we begin to see his ascension to fame and fortune, from his humble origins in 1970s Britain.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film had a lot of minor flaws, which could have been major ones, except for the fact that it had bundles of charm, which made it oddly attractive to me and the person I went to see it with. It was very much like an old stlye british drama that could have been made in the sixties ("Spring and Port Wine" springs to mind). However, I appreciate that many people do not have the patience for such movies nowadays. These days the public seem to want all-action, or violence, sex or melodrama. Anything more slow paced and gentle just won't do. I am glad Craig is the sort of actor who will lend himself to this type of work and I would applaud him for it.
Certainly if you were a teenager in the seventies it helps to appreaciate this film. To quibble about the title, as there there is only one flashback, is a bit of a nonsense really. The characters were interesting and the soundtrack great. The acting was pretty good as well. The strain of just being an adolescent was portrayed well, even though there were a few things that maybe hung together a bit tenuously.
One bit of dialogue was, I felt, not of the time it was supposed to be and that was when one of main characters referred to another as being a "retard". This was not a word (in my teenage world) that was used, and my friends and I knew a lot of obscenties. Most of this world is perfectly believable, however, and when the female lead explains the meaning of 'Jean Geanie' I remembered reading the article she reffered to myself, in the New Musical Express (I think it might have been written by Charles Shar Murray).
I really loved this film and it did take me right back, and made me wonder, sadly, where all that time has gone.
Certainly if you were a teenager in the seventies it helps to appreaciate this film. To quibble about the title, as there there is only one flashback, is a bit of a nonsense really. The characters were interesting and the soundtrack great. The acting was pretty good as well. The strain of just being an adolescent was portrayed well, even though there were a few things that maybe hung together a bit tenuously.
One bit of dialogue was, I felt, not of the time it was supposed to be and that was when one of main characters referred to another as being a "retard". This was not a word (in my teenage world) that was used, and my friends and I knew a lot of obscenties. Most of this world is perfectly believable, however, and when the female lead explains the meaning of 'Jean Geanie' I remembered reading the article she reffered to myself, in the New Musical Express (I think it might have been written by Charles Shar Murray).
I really loved this film and it did take me right back, and made me wonder, sadly, where all that time has gone.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I wonder if this film went over alot of peoples heads who weren't teenagers in the 1970's, I was and thought it captured the era brilliantly, the soundtrack is amazing and I thought that the insight into present day Hollywood when you face no longer fits was very intersting.
I thought Daniel Craig was very good in this role and it was refreshing to see such an actor not in a 'blockbuster'
Personally I was suprised that this film was not a bigger sucess and would recommed it, especailly to poeple who lived through and loved the 70's.
I thought Daniel Craig was very good in this role and it was refreshing to see such an actor not in a 'blockbuster'
Personally I was suprised that this film was not a bigger sucess and would recommed it, especailly to poeple who lived through and loved the 70's.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I really loved this film. I was in two minds whether I should see it or not when it came out in cinemas, as I had heard only bad things about it. I thought I'd give it a go anyway...
First of all, I don't think this is a mainstream film, hence the bad reviews! It probably only made it onto the big screen because it stars Daniel Craig.
Personally, I think this is one of the best films 2008 has offered to date, and the sound track is amazing!
If you like This is England, Little Miss Sunshine, or Everything is Illuminated... or if you're a Bowie or Roxy Music fan, I definitely recommend this film to you!
It will make you laugh, and cry! There are some unforgettable scenes, and the costume is fantastic!
First of all, I don't think this is a mainstream film, hence the bad reviews! It probably only made it onto the big screen because it stars Daniel Craig.
Personally, I think this is one of the best films 2008 has offered to date, and the sound track is amazing!
If you like This is England, Little Miss Sunshine, or Everything is Illuminated... or if you're a Bowie or Roxy Music fan, I definitely recommend this film to you!
It will make you laugh, and cry! There are some unforgettable scenes, and the costume is fantastic!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Published 6 months ago by Debby W
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review of dvd and seller
many thanks to this excellent seller and great dvd perfect service deserves to do well 10/10 A1+++++++ pefectly really watchable film very moving
Published 7 months ago by johnbetjeman
A good three star rating...the glass is half full.
A decent film. A bit heavy on the melodrama in the middle. Daniel Craig is a good screen presence. I think his best part was in the low budget Enduring Love. Read more
Published 8 months ago by M
Weird - a missed opportunity
Pretty but lacking in substance.
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The first 30 minutes are an odd version of entourage (with Mark Strong as a great version of Ari Gold... Read more
Published 11 months ago by chodhound
Amazing
Woke in the night and flicked on the TV and saw this. Loved it and ordered it straight away from Amazon. My favourite film of all time.
Published 13 months ago by 123butterfly123
Film that never quite made it at the cinema - a well kept secret
Great film, especially if you love Roxy Music as I do. Nostalgic, subtle, sensual and very British. Great character pieces, well acted and completely believable. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mo
Outstanding
Excellent cast, fine writing and top-drawer direction. A great piece of work. A splash of gallows humour finishes it off nicely.
Published 17 months ago by Simon Harvey
excellent film to watch.
Flashbacks Of A Fool, DVD 2008, is an excellent film to watch and i would recommend it to almost anyone, rent it first and then you can buy it as new if you liked it, just to be on... Read more
Published 18 months ago by zubhar
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