A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral.A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral.A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral.
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This surreal whimsical story of growing pains, regret and redemption, parallels a lonely coastal hamlet in the 1970's as the flashback; with a contemporary luxurious and stylish, but lonely uba-villa in the noughties as the outcome. Jo's life has been colourful, and a phone call in a moment of crisis, takes him Right Back To When He Was Young. We are reminded that the past is ever present in our lives, and has the power through music and emotions, to re-connect us to what really mattered to us; even as we lost ourselves in worldly affairs. Obscure but Wonderful.
I thought Flashbacks Of A Fool was about a decadent narcissist fast living actor and the crazy life he led with all the sex,drugs and parties. Well, it is but only in the first minutes of the film, what you'll see here is his childhood.After the death of his best friend, Joe Scott sits back and in a extended flashback the movie shows us how he was as a teenager and how life was in the 70's.The story is very interesting and the movie was beautifully shot and the musical score couldn't be more appropriated(just ignore that final music when the credits roll over).There's also a lip sync scene you won't forget. Daniel Craig was great, he has great charisma, I would really like to see more of him outside of the 007 franchise.Harry Eden did a great job as well and seems to be a very promising actor. Best movie I've seen in quite a while.
8/10
8/10
This film was right up my street. I would recommend it to anyone who is happy and indeed eager to become emotionally involved in a story. I have to say that the lip sync sequence was outstanding and it stayed in my head for days afterwards. I was thinking about the film for days after I'd seen it. There was something incredible for me in the way the whole film was shot but especially the flashbacks to the seaside - it awoke something for me from that era that I had forgotten about from my childhood and I found it strangely comforting. Not that I grew up near the sea but it struck a chord deep inside. How great to be able to capture something so brilliantly and bring it to life for others. I am envious of Baillie WALSH for this but thank God for him also. I look forward to seeing what else can be done.
Daniel CRAIG was stunning in the role, and brought it to life by showing us something we haven't seen in him too often - the sadder/nastier character - although his physique was maybe a little too perfect to make the decadent, fast living, hedonistic junkie completely believable - although I will forgive him for this! Harry EDEN who played the young Joe showed us all the awkwardness of youth and adolescence along with the desperation to grow up and all it's pitfalls. He was stunning on screen and oozed fragility. I would have liked to see the link showing how young Joe became an actor but understand there is a limit to how long a film can reasonably be.
Similarly to NOTES ON A SCANDAL and THE MOTHER - this for me was the kind of film that I could enjoy over and over and each time still feel that I am a seeing something I shouldn't - like a secret - and watching every delicious moment without being noticed myself.
Daniel CRAIG was stunning in the role, and brought it to life by showing us something we haven't seen in him too often - the sadder/nastier character - although his physique was maybe a little too perfect to make the decadent, fast living, hedonistic junkie completely believable - although I will forgive him for this! Harry EDEN who played the young Joe showed us all the awkwardness of youth and adolescence along with the desperation to grow up and all it's pitfalls. He was stunning on screen and oozed fragility. I would have liked to see the link showing how young Joe became an actor but understand there is a limit to how long a film can reasonably be.
Similarly to NOTES ON A SCANDAL and THE MOTHER - this for me was the kind of film that I could enjoy over and over and each time still feel that I am a seeing something I shouldn't - like a secret - and watching every delicious moment without being noticed myself.
This is my 1st ever post on IMDb so I apologise in advance if it's crap! I was 1 of the 1st members of public to see this film as I attended a preview for research and marketing purposes and i had to fill in a questionnaire at the end...yadayadayada (U know what i mean). The film was not what i expected at all. I was expecting a load of drug taking scenes and thought the whole film would have a "dirty" feel to it such as "Blow" or "Pulp Fiction" but it actually turned out to be a very sensitive film. I was moved by the emotional story of this guy's messed up childhood. I was extremely impressed by Claire Forlani's performance even though she's not in the film for that long. This film will give you goosebumps and a trembling lip from the emotional roller-coaster that is this Flashbacks Of A Fool. Good film. Girls in their 30s to late 40s will prefer it to guys. Great 70s Soundtrack (and that's coming from me, a 23 year old!) The soundtrack album should be really good.
Thanks for devoting 2 minutes of your life to read this! I really appreciate it.
Thanks for devoting 2 minutes of your life to read this! I really appreciate it.
This flick is starting to hit the US cable movie channels. I had never heard of it. I came away moved and impressed by this Daniel Craig project. "Shake your hair girl with your ponytail. Takes me right back..." OTHER: I found myself getting the female actors mixed up, but that's really my only problem with it. They look alike. The SA location fooled me completely and looked great. A refreshing change from the usual gritty rowhouse environment in which many British movies of this type are set. The film "Wish You Were Here" pushes similar buttons as this flick. Loved Ruth's 1970's wardrobe and the arcade that was apparently the center of life for these teens back in the day.
Loved the director's economy of actors. Most others would have had that arcade FILLED with extras cluttering up the scene. But in a memory, are there any extras?
Loved the director's economy of actors. Most others would have had that arcade FILLED with extras cluttering up the scene. But in a memory, are there any extras?
Did you know
- TriviaFeature film debut of Felicity Jones.
- GoofsNone of the cars that were supposed to be in California, had a front California License Plate. They only had rear California plates. California is a front and rear plate State.
- Quotes
Adult Joe Scot: When I was a child I used to think that being brave meant that you had to take ownership. That to have a dream and to move forward in life you needed courage. But the only thing you need courage for is for standing still.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: Episode #13.11 (2007)
- SoundtracksFils de...
Performed by Scott Walker
Words by Jacques Brel
Music by Gérard Jouannest
Courtesy of Mercury Records Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Operations
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Спогади невдахи
- Filming locations
- South Africa(on location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,664
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,020
- Oct 19, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $1,117,269
- Runtime
- 1h 53m(113 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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