Sunday, September 29, 2013
Top 10 greatest Jean-Claude Van Damme movies
Bulging Belgian Jean-Claude Van Damme's career comes under the spotlight, as Duncan lists 10 of the action star's finest movies...Back in the golden era of action cinema, otherwise known as the 80s, muscular heroes dominated the big screen and absolutely flooded the burgeoning straight-to-video market. While the likes of Schwarzenegger and Stallone had broken into the mainstream and became household names, there was no shortage of up and coming younger actors keen to follow in their footsteps.
I’ve never understood the criteria by which Hollywood decides which actors will become breakout cinematic stars, and if they do, for how long. As movie geeks, I’m sure we all have favourites that never quite achieved the success we wished for them – in the martial arts/action world alone, the list would be absolutely huge, with names like Michael Dudikoff, Richard Norton and David Bradley springing to mind from back in the day, as well as the more contemporary direct to video stars such as Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins, who still maintain the tradition of making solid action flicks for those of us who simply can’t get enough.
10. Double Impact (1991)/Replicant (2001)
9. Kickboxer (1989)
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| "Big surprise. Huuuge surprise." |
Double Impact was the first chance I had to see Jean-Claude on the big screen, thankfully down to a combination of its UK release in cinemas and that, at the age of 16, was able to buy tickets for 18-certificate films. Directed by long time Van Damme collaborator, Sheldon Lettich, it was exciting, funny, violent and a real chance for JCVD to flex his acting chops. Last year, while waiting on a rain-soaked red carpet for The Expendables 2, I enthused about his work with friend and editor of ScreenGeek, Sam Faulkner, who had a particular soft spot for Double Impact and contributed the following.
9. Kickboxer (1989)
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| "And why they were so piss at me?" |
Kickboxer, when you think about it, is a lot like Karate Kid (or Part II to be more precise) only with more bloody violence and broken glass. A young, rookie fighter is trained by a wise old master, by some rather unconventional methods, in order to get some payback - though to be fair Mr Miyagi wasn’t an advocate of brutal revenge.
8. A.W.O.L: Absent Without Leave - aka Lionheart (1990)
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| "Wrong bet!" |
It’s difficult to explain how much of an effect A.W.O.L had on my affinity for Van Damme, without contextualising. To many people, I’m sure, it’s just a film about a man earning money through underground fights, to help out the wife and child of his murdered brother, but in my mid-teens it was absolutely beloved.
7. JCVD (2008)
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| “This movie is for me.” |
One of the titular star's most critically acclaimed movies to date, JCVD came left of centre at a time when the general public had chosen to simply write Van Damme off as capable of nothing more than straight to video-action-movies. To the film's credit - even to a loyal fan - it was still a shock to the system, with its rather depressing depiction of one man trapped inside the notion of celebrity, while destined to make the same kind of movie ad infinitum for the rest of his career.
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| "I like… symbol." |
The most recent entry, but one which had to be added and would feature far higher were Van Damme’s screen time longer. That said, it’s the case with The Expendables 2 that a little goes a long way, and the quality of his performance marks it easily amongst his best.
While I remain a fan of the first Expendables, the addition of JC as the subtly named Vilain really did complete my dream line up of 80s action heroes. His appearance, combined with the humour and gloriously obscene amounts of carnage (the opening sequence has to be one of the greatest starts to an action movie yet) made The Expendables 2 supersede everything that was great about the first entry.
5. Sudden Death (1995) |
| "I’m having a real bad day.” |
If Steven Seagal had Under Siege, Wesley Snipes had Passenger 57 and Kurt Russell had Executive Decision, then it was Van Damme’s second collaboration with director Peter Hyams that resulted in arguably his most accessible and mainstream movie to date. It’s a classic ‘everyman versus terrorists’ scenario, but executed with aplomb and filled with a great sense of scale (helped in no small part by Hyams' skill as a director of photography) and memorable moments.
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| "Now take your big stick and your boyfriend and find a bus to catch. |
The universal appeal of Jean Claude Van Damme has meant that he's been chosen by quite a few directors making their first English language feature film, especially from the far east. It's a great accolade to have, especially when one of those directors happens to be the legendary John Woo, whose Hong Kong action movies are still amongst some of the greatest ever made - if you've only experienced his mixed Hollywood output, such as Face/Off or Broken Arrow, then you need to track down a copy of Hard Boiled right now.
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| "I’m still kicking, I must be on Broadway.” |
Any self-respecting action star should, at some point in their career, have a blockbuster sci-fi feature under their belt. The 90s saw a flood of such movies, thanks to the swift advancement of VFX over the previous decade, with Schwarzenegger's Total Recall, Stallone's Demolition Man, Willis' Fifth Element as well as less high profile (but fondly remembered) films like Christopher Lambert's Fortress, Ray Liotta's No Escape and so on - even Olivier Gruner had Nemesis. It will come as no surprise that I'm still waiting for Statham to add one to his roster, as The One was a supporting role, and I'm amazed he wasn't chosen to star in the remake of Total Recall as a replacement Arnie.
2. Universal Soldier (1992) |
| "The food is good." |
When Universal Soldier was released I almost wept with joy. Thanks to Van Damme's productivity in the previous few years, I was a full-blown fan by the time it appeared on the big screen and that, coupled with my love of Dolph Lundgren after a solid run from Rocky IV to Showdown In Little Tokyo, meant I was one excited geek, and Universal Soldier did not disappoint.
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| "If I can grab it before you close your hand, I get the girl. |
After both limited screen time and dialogue in the glorious 80s treat that is No Retreat, No Surrender, in which he'd played the lead villain, Bloodsport marked Van Damme's breakthrough as both leading man and straight-to-video star. The words ‘based on a true story' always make me wince, but here it proves to be a great excuse to watch endless bouts of fighting, wrapped in the joyous conventions that epitomised 80s action. It delivers power ballads courtesy of the great Stan Bush yet again, has revenge, flashbacks, seeing an enemy reflected in a window behind only for him to disappear on turning round, a gratuitous chase and, of course, a training montage.
It would also showcase a versatility to JCVD's heroic portrayal of real life martial artist, Frank Dux (allegations have since been made against Dux's background, and claims that the Kumite even existed, though it resulted in Bloodsport being made, so I'm happy), who is beaten, tortured and even blinded throughout the course of the film, bringing an early sense of charm and likeability to a role that could so easily have been filled with arrogance. More importantly, Van Damme gives Dux a sense of vulnerability, which is still a rarity in action movies.
It would also showcase a versatility to JCVD's heroic portrayal of real life martial artist, Frank Dux (allegations have since been made against Dux's background, and claims that the Kumite even existed, though it resulted in Bloodsport being made, so I'm happy), who is beaten, tortured and even blinded throughout the course of the film, bringing an early sense of charm and likeability to a role that could so easily have been filled with arrogance. More importantly, Van Damme gives Dux a sense of vulnerability, which is still a rarity in action movies.
