A Review of Flashbacks of a Fool

The film "Flashbacks of a Fool" is not a great movie. At the same time though, it is not a terrible movie either. I would nominate it for neither an Academy Award nor a Razzie. The movie serves its main purpose as an allegory of wasted life and wasted choices. Moreover, while the movie has plenty of downfalls, including some plot-holes you could drive an Abrams Tank through, it is entertaining and thought provoking.

The movie's main character is Joe Scot, a washed-up Hollywood actor, played by Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig seems to relish playing something that doesn't have to do with girls, guns or martinis. His performance is the best one of the movie. Craig's naturally prickly demeanor is what makes his characterization of Joe Scot so interesting. When he's faced with the fact that his career is going downhill and that the other parts of his personal life are falling apart, you believe the anguish that Daniel Craig puts into the character, but you realize Joe Scot's anguish is less-about remorse about what's happening than remorse that he can't control what's happening.

After Daniel Craig's Joe Scot learns about the death of his best friend from when he was growing up in England it leads the flashback part of the movie. The younger Joe Scot is played by Harry Eden. While Harry Eden is definitely no Daniel Craig, he does play his role with great integrity and tenacity. The fact that his version of Joe Scot is a teenager who is getting used to life and that Harry Eden is only a teenager himself is what he brings most to the role. You believe the confusion the young Joe Scot is feeling about the world around him and his place in it.

Since I'm not in the business of giving away plots in my movie reviews, my only suggestion is that you see the movie and take it with a grain of salt. The movie tries to give the viewer several tear-jerking scenes without it actually playing off. The movie's focus on Joe Scot leaves almost absolutely no room for development of the other characters. Because of the lack of character development, you feel no attachment to any of the characters and what's happening to them in the movie. Perhaps the most peculiar role in the movie belongs to rapper Eve as Joe Scot's maid in the present day, you don't really know if she's a love-interest of Daniel Craig's character or not and therefore you can't really connect with her.

One of the best things about this movie is its soundtrack. The plot of the movie seems to hinge off one song by Roxy Music called "If There Is Something." The lyrics, especially of the song's climax, seem to encapsulate what the movie is all about. There are a couple of David Bowie songs also included in the soundtrack. The movie asks you to make a choice between the music of either Bryan Ferry or David Bowie and just like the characters in the movie, you can't, because both are definitely great.

The movie also has very beautiful locations, filmed in South Africa and Malibu. The locations lend well to the film's cinematography and you can get lost in the movie's scenery.

Overall, the movie is not bad. Out of a possible five stars, I would have to give it three and a half stars mainly because of its lack of character development. If they spent more time honing the script and fleshing out the characters better, the film could have been truly great. As it is, "Flashbacks of a Fool" is definitely worth seeing, but don't feel you have to rush and buy the DVD, just rent it, because I doubt unless you're a true fan of these kinds of movies, it doesn't lend itself to repeat viewing.