Short version: While more for the art-house crowd than mainstream audiences, JCVD shines a favorable light on both the man behind the image and the amazing actor we never knew Van Damme had in him.

Screen Rant’s Kofi Outlaw reviews JCVD

JCVD, the Jean-Claude Van Damme meta-movie from French filmmaker Mabrouk El Mechri, was one of two  films to make it into the prestigious final round of Screen Rant’s list of this year’s hot International Picks. (You can read a review of Screen Rant’s other international pick, Let The Right One In, here.)

Having now seen JCVD, I can congratulate myself for picking two very enjoyable movies. And JCVD is indeed a very enjoyable film–provided that you know what you’re getting into. I advise that you approach this film with the understanding that it is going to be more Being John Malkovich than it is Bloodsport, with a dash of Pulp Fiction thrown in for good measure.

Every now and again I like to do a little cheerleading for films that I think are flying too low under the radar. Last year I made the early prediction that No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood would be Winter’s biggest contenders for Oscar glory; needless to say, these precognitive movie powers of mine have since been proven.

My predictions this time around are a little less grand in scope: I have two international films that I’m offering up for your movie-going considerations, simply because I think you’ll enjoy them. (And satisfying movies with subtitles are hard to come by.)