Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)

Director:

Baillie Walsh

Writer:

Baillie Walsh (writer)

Release Date:

17 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral. |

Cast

Emile Robert	...	Young Joe Scot
Daniel Craig	...	Adult Joe Scot
Julie Ordon	...	Carrie Ann
Gina Athans	...	Apple
Erich Conrad	...	Voice of Radio DJ (voice)
Eve	...	Ophelia Franklin
Emilia Fox	...	Sister Jean
Annabel Linder	...	Dawn
Angie Ruiz	...	Priscilla
Sue Dall	...	Maitre D
Mark Strong	...	Mannie Miesel
Pope Jerrod	...	Waiter
Darron Meyer	...	Valet
Harry Eden	...	Teenage Joe Scot
Max Deacon	...	Teenage Boots McKay

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

Argentina:110 min | Greece:110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:16 | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:16 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Left Turn Films

Quotes:

Boots: [In the Tunnel] Hey Joe! You know David Bowie believes in aliens?
Young Joe Scot: Yeah, I know.
[pause]
Young Joe Scot: You stink! You need a bath.
Boots: I had a bath.
Young Joe Scot: When?
Boots: I...
[thinking]
Young Joe Scot: Exactly! You never take a bath! You stink!
Boots: Well, how often do you have a bath then?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flashbacks of a Fool Movie Special (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Mozart: 1 Regina Coeli, Laetare

Needed to have more focus on character rather than events – a disappointment

Joe Scott is a very successful actor who has a reputation for debauchery and drug use to the point that even his own housekeeper dreads coming to work in the morning for fear of what she will find. When he loses a part in a film though, the confrontation with his agent forces him to faces facts about his life which in turn sends him into despair, given that it has come on the heels of the news of a childhood friend's death. Joe finds himself recalling this friendship and other formative aspects of his teenage years.

The cast attracted me to this film on DVD even though it had totally passed me by when it came through the UK cinemas. The opening sex scenes caught my eye as they were well-filmed and contrasted well with the music and suggested that the film might be on its way to something interesting. It seems that way the whole way through the modern day set-up but once we flashback that things gradually start going wrong. The irony is that this is where the film is in regards the narrative but it doesn't work. The problem is that we have too much focus on events such as sexual encounters and other memorable moments but nowhere near enough on in regards character development and insight. This started to make me lose interest in the character of Joe and the film itself – something that continued as it went on. This leaves the bookend section back in the present day feeling like it should be touching and moving while also failing to be.

Visually I really liked the film because it has a very professional gloss on it with plenty of good shots that one would perhaps expect from a music video director. The problem is that Walsh doesn't deliver on the emotion and complexity in the script or the delivery. The cast do what they can but it is difficult without the leadership in what they are doing. Craig looks physically great and he is an effortless presence on the screen but he cannot emotionally connect and I wasn't touched by his performance. Eden is more of a victim of this though as his turn comes off really stiff and uninvolving. Other turns in the past are more convincing and engaging, which is a shame as they are smaller characters. I did also think Eve was better than I expected despite her tiny role.

Flashbacks of a Fool is a disappointment. It looks great but when it comes to the substance and the characters it simply doesn't deliver and ends up being a little dull. I wanted to be moved and engaged in these lives but I wasn't – even if some of the events held my attention by virtue of what they were.