| Flashbacks of a Fool | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Baillie Walsh |
| Produced by | Lene Bausager |
| Written by | Baillie Walsh |
| Starring | Daniel Craig Harry Eden Claire Forlani Felicity Jones Eve Emilia Fox Jodhi May Miriam Karlin |
| Music by | Richard Hartley |
| Cinematography | John Mathieson |
| Editing by | Struan Clay |
| Studio | Left Turn Films Ugly Duckling Films Visitor Pictures |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (UK) Anchor Bay Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | April 13, 2008 |
| Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,107,542 |
Flashbacks of a Fool is a 2008 British drama film about a Hollywood actor who, following the death of his childhood best friend, reflects upon his life and what might have been, had he stayed in England. The film was directed by Baillie Walsh, and stars Daniel Craig, Harry Eden, Claire Forlani, Felicity Jones, Emilia Fox, Eve, Jodhi May and Miriam Karlin.
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Joe (Daniel Craig) is a has-been actor who seemed to have had great success at one time but who now just spends his time drinking, doing drugs and sleeping with random women. The only person he has in his life is his personal assistant Ophelia, and even she is getting tired of him. He receives a call from his mother to say his childhood best friend, Boots, whom he has not seen in years, has died. He attends a disastrous meeting with his agent, who has lost interest in Joe and his career. Joe then meets with an up-and-coming director, during which his excessive drinking causes him to lose the part he had hoped would restore his flagging career. His agent tells him that he is washed up, no one wants to work with him, and quits. This upsets Joe, then Joe goes to a sea and stares at the waves, which reminds him his teenage life.
The film flashes back 25 years to a 16-year-old Joe (Harry Eden) and his best friend Boots (Max Deacon). We find out Boots has epilepsy and has recently had an attack in the cinema. Joe’s next-door neighbour, a bored housewife named Evelyn (Jodhi May), comes on to him and invites him over that evening, where they are almost caught in sexual activity by her unsuspecting husband. The next day Joe meets up with a popular but quirky girl his own age from town, Ruth (Felicity Jones). She invites him back to her house which he accepts, leaving boots alone and angry, after seeing Ruth's home, Joe is delighted. Ruth applies make up to Joe's face, making him resembling a star. Both of them dances and indicates their interest in each other. Next day Evelyn watches Joe in the bathroom seducing him to come to her home on way to his date, Evelyn coaxes Joe to stop with her and they end up having sex. Joe arrives late to meet Ruth, who has been kept company by Boots. Ruth sees love bites from Evelyn on his neck and storms off. Boots questions Joe if he had sex with Evelyn, which Joe declines calmly. Boots questions him again, this time more loudly making Joe angry. In his frustration, Joe has a fight with Boots. The next day, Evelyn comes on to Joe again, asking him about his date. Joe replies saying it was terrible due to love bites visible on his neck. She responds saying she really liked how he touched her, then inviting him to her house, if he again wants to repeat it. This time Joe is more excited than Evelyn. She proceeds to force her little girl, Jane (Jodie Tomlinson), who was watching TV, out to play so they can have the house to themselves. While Joe and Evelyn are in bed, Jane finds a washed up mine, climbs on it and detonates it, perishing instantly. Joe blames himself, runs away on the day of the little girl's funeral, and doesn't return.
Joe left as a boy but returns as a middle aged man. We are now in the present. Joe returns to England to attend Boots' funeral, but is too late and has missed it. His mother and Aunt tell him that Boots died of an aneurysm and left behind his wife - Ruth! - four young children, and a lot of debt. Joe goes to visit Ruth at the graveyard who tells him how much she loved Boots and what a wonderful person he was, but how she cannot cry even though it is the saddest moment of her life. His sister tells him that Evelyn also died a few years ago. (Evelyn's marriage had broken up after Jane died and she married a cruel fellow we were shown briefly at a fishing scene in Act 2, who beat her. When Evelyn finally found the courage to leave the guy, she was struck and killed by a truck. Her head was never found at the crash site: officials suggested it was taken by a fox.) Joe goes back home to the grand house he purchased for his family when his career was going well. He listens to the same music he and Ruth listened to the night they danced, and decides to write her a cheque to help her out. He encloses with the cheque a letter which had a special phrase written in it from a song they shared the night they met. When Joe's sister gives it to her, Ruth breaks down crying instantly. Chastised by all that has occurred, Joe heads back to Los Angeles and is met by his personal assistant with whom he starts talking about his possibilities as an actor in the future.
The film was mainly shot in Cape Town in South Africa, Malibu, California and England.
Flashbacks of a Fool is director Baillie Walsh's first feature film. Walsh has directed music videos for, among others, Massive Attack, Oasis and INXS.
The cinematography for the film was done by John Mathieson, who has shot for films such as Gladiator, Matchstick Men and Kingdom of Heaven.[1]
The song when Joe, dressed as Bryan Ferry, dances with Ruth is "If There Is Something", performed by Roxy Music, from their eponymous first album. The film misses out the first minute and forty seconds of the song. The original song is over six minutes long.
There is also music in the Film performed by David Bowie, Scott Walker, War Zone, and Harry Eden.[2]
The film's soundtrack plays a vital role for the plot. Director Baillie Walsh had only directed music videos previous to directing Flashbacks of a Fool.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 38% of critics gave positive based on 20 reviews.[3] Critics called the script undeveloped. Craig's performance was generally praised.