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J.C.V.D. being J.C.V.D.
I told you about the film “J.C.V.D.” a while back. It’s the meta-drama (apparently fictional) about Jean-Claude Van Damme that played at Fantastic Fest and tells the story of the washed-up action hero and the trials and tribulations of his life and career. Check out what I had to say about it here.
Well, the film comes out this week, and in preparation for said, it appears the engimatic J.C.V.D. is doing the interview circuit. (Jean-Claude, you can email me here.)
It seems ol’ Van Damme hasn’t lost much of his punch, or ability to reference himself in the third person, as evidenced by his interview with Sarah Ball of Newsweek. Matthew thinks it’s hilarious.
In the words of my friend D-Rox, it appears, much like Joe Namath, J.C.V.D. is strug-a-ling.
Most of the interview from Newsweek here:
Why did you want to make a film that comments on your own life?I made this just to show some of the internal side of J.C.V.D., in a way. He’s a guy, a normal guy from Belgium with dreams, and I did well in that type of path. At the age of 47, to take chances and go back to Europe and be talking to some studios there, I’m showing them that I believe I’m good quality.
There ’ s a monologue in the film about being a washed-up action star. Did you improvise that?
I like structure—like driving: go past the school on the street, stay on the right side, no hitting the car, go in right, you’ll see a big church, stop and take a left, and you’ll have it. By doing this I’m giving a structure of life, a path of light, and showing what happens between me and me, which is something very beautiful.
Beautiful? Why?
I really opened myself up in “JCVD.” I peeled back the skin of the fruit, cut the pulp and then took that very hard seed. In this film I cut that hard seed, and inside that seed was a kind of liquid cream substance of the man I am, or the woman you are.
OK —
It was like being naked—I would love to be naked in front of you.
Well, I —
Not being naked being naked. I say such things in Hong Kong and they thought I was being a crazy Frenchman. Being naked of protection.
So you ’ ve no regrets at all?
Believe me—I’ve done very good stuff and very crazy stuff, and I don’t regret the crazy stuff. So are you in New York?
Yes, I am.
And are you 27, or 32?
I ’ m 22.
Oh, f—-. That is very young. Will you come to the premiere?
I don ’ t know. When is it?
I don’t know. You will wear all black, a black dress and high heels?
Uh —
You can come find me, I will be the one with the very broad shoulders, dark hair and a simple suit. We can have some champagne, you and me.
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Comments
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By Oh, Steph
November 20, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
If this is real, then I am all the more in love with JCVD than ever. Crazy people are totally my bag.
By Austin Lone Star
November 20, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
MO, I am disappointed in you. This JCVD snippet was previously posted on another blog, www.barstoolsports.com a couple of hours before your post. The MO is clearly a sports nut and must have copied it from barstoolsports. MO, what is next? Smokeshow of the Day? Guess that Behind[sic]?
Coincidence, I think not. The Newsweek article underlying your blog post was available online 5 days before barstoolsports but you independently post very similiar subject matter mere hours after barstool sports?? Coincidence??? hmmmmm….
Your posts during your time at the Austinist were funny and original but your Statesman blog has degraded into endless Top 10 lists and now a post that shamelessly lifts material from another more original blog. Again, disappointing.
By odam
November 20, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Lone Star,
I appreciate your criticism and perspicacity (as well as your backhanded compliment). And, while I am a sports nut, I have never heard of Barstoolsports. I actually read it on Newsweek.com after being sent a link to the original article from a friend. Long live the internets.