Flashbacks of a Fool
Encyclopedia
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
.
) 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 apllies make up to joe 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 seeducing 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 respond's 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.
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
.
", 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
.
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.
reported that 38% of critics gave positive based on 20 reviews. Critics called the script undeveloped. Craig's performance was generally praised.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
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
Baillie Walsh
Baillie Walsh is a music video and film director. He is best known for writing and directing the film Flashbacks of a Fool starring Daniel Craig, Eve, Harry Eden, and Felicity Jones.-External links:...
, and stars Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig
Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
, Harry Eden
Harry Eden
Harry Eden is an English actor who won a British Independent Film Award in 2003 for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in Pure....
, Claire Forlani
Claire Forlani
Claire Antonia Forlani is an English actress.-Early life:Claire Forlani was born in Twickenham, London, the daughter of Barbara , who was English, and Pierluigi Forlani, a music manager from Ferrara, Italy. At the age of 11, Forlani entered the Arts Educational School in London, where she began to...
, Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones is an English actress from Birmingham. She is best known to television audiences for her role as the school bully Ethel Hallow in the first series of The Worst Witch and its sequel Weirdsister College...
, Emilia Fox
Emilia Fox
Emilia Rose Elizabeth Fox is an award-winning English actress, known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on BBC crime drama Silent Witness, having joined the cast in 2004 following the departure of Amanda Burton. She also appears as Morgause in the BBC's Merlin beginning in the programme's second...
, Eve
Eve (rapper)
Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
, Jodhi May
Jodhi May
Jodhi May is an English actress.-Early life:Born in Camden Town, London, May first acted at the age of 12 in 1988's A World Apart. The role earned her a Best Actress award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, shared with her co-stars Barbara Hershey and Linda Mvusi...
and Miriam Karlin
Miriam Karlin
Miriam Karlin, OBE was a British actress who worked on screen for over 60 years. She was best known for her role as Paddy in The Rag Trade, a 1960s BBC and 1970s LWT sitcom , especially for her catchphrase "Everybody out!"...
.
Plot
Joe (Daniel CraigDaniel Craig
Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
) 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
Harry Eden
Harry Eden is an English actor who won a British Independent Film Award in 2003 for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in Pure....
) 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
Jodhi May
Jodhi May is an English actress.-Early life:Born in Camden Town, London, May first acted at the age of 12 in 1988's A World Apart. The role earned her a Best Actress award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, shared with her co-stars Barbara Hershey and Linda Mvusi...
), 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
Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones is an English actress from Birmingham. She is best known to television audiences for her role as the school bully Ethel Hallow in the first series of The Worst Witch and its sequel Weirdsister College...
). She invites him back to her house which he accepts,leaving boots alone and angry,after seeing ruth's home, joe is delighted. Ruth apllies make up to joe 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 seeducing 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 respond's 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.
Cast
- Daniel CraigDaniel CraigDaniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
as adult Joe Scot - Harry EdenHarry EdenHarry Eden is an English actor who won a British Independent Film Award in 2003 for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in Pure....
as young Joe Scot - Claire ForlaniClaire ForlaniClaire Antonia Forlani is an English actress.-Early life:Claire Forlani was born in Twickenham, London, the daughter of Barbara , who was English, and Pierluigi Forlani, a music manager from Ferrara, Italy. At the age of 11, Forlani entered the Arts Educational School in London, where she began to...
as adult Ruth - Felicity JonesFelicity JonesFelicity Jones is an English actress from Birmingham. She is best known to television audiences for her role as the school bully Ethel Hallow in the first series of The Worst Witch and its sequel Weirdsister College...
as young Ruth - Emilia FoxEmilia FoxEmilia Rose Elizabeth Fox is an award-winning English actress, known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on BBC crime drama Silent Witness, having joined the cast in 2004 following the departure of Amanda Burton. She also appears as Morgause in the BBC's Merlin beginning in the programme's second...
as Sister Jean - EveEve (rapper)Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
as Ophelia Franklin - Jodhi MayJodhi MayJodhi May is an English actress.-Early life:Born in Camden Town, London, May first acted at the age of 12 in 1988's A World Apart. The role earned her a Best Actress award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, shared with her co-stars Barbara Hershey and Linda Mvusi...
as Evelyn Adams - Miriam KarlinMiriam KarlinMiriam Karlin, OBE was a British actress who worked on screen for over 60 years. She was best known for her role as Paddy in The Rag Trade, a 1960s BBC and 1970s LWT sitcom , especially for her catchphrase "Everybody out!"...
as Mrs. Rogers - Helen McCroryHelen McCroryHelen Elizabeth McCrory is a British actress. She portrayed Cherie Blair in both the 2006 film The Queen and the 2010 film The Special Relationship. She also portrayed Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films....
as Peggy Tickell - James D'ArcyJames D'Arcy-Early life:James D'Arcy was born as Simon D'Arcy and grew up in Fulham, London, with his mother, Caroline and his younger sister Charlotte. His father died when he was young. After completing his education at Christ's Hospital in 1991, he went to Australia for a year and worked in the drama...
as Jack Adams - Mark StrongMark StrongMark Strong is an English actor, with a body of work in both films and television. He has performed in films as varied as Body of Lies, Syriana, The Young Victoria, Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla, Stardust, and Kick-Ass...
as Mannie Miesel - Olivia WilliamsOlivia WilliamsOlivia Haigh Williams is an English film, stage and television actress who has appeared in British and American films and television series.-Early life:Williams was born in Camden Town, London, England...
as Grace Scot - Julie OrdonJulie OrdonJulie Ordon is a Swiss model and actress born in Geneva, Switzerland.- Modeling :Ordon, the youngest of four sisters, moved to Paris in 1999 after winning a talent contest and signing a contract with now-defunct Madison Models Agency. She has appeared in campaigns for Biotherm, Tally Weijl,...
as Carrie Ann - Gina AthansGina AthansGina Athans is a South African former beauty queen and model.She was crowned Miss South Africa Teen 2000, model to appear on Marie Claire, and has been voted FHM sexiest woman in the world and South Africa's most Stylish Woman....
as Apple - Max Deacon] as young Boots McKay
- Jodie Tomlinson as Jane Adams
- Keeley HawesKeeley HawesKeeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
as Jesse Scot - Mia Clifford as young Jesse Scot
Production
The film was mainly shot in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Malibu, California and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Flashbacks of a Fool is director Baillie Walsh
Baillie Walsh
Baillie Walsh is a music video and film director. He is best known for writing and directing the film Flashbacks of a Fool starring Daniel Craig, Eve, Harry Eden, and Felicity Jones.-External links:...
's first feature film. Walsh has directed music videos for, among others, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
.
The cinematography for the film was done by John Mathieson
John Mathieson (cinematographer)
John Mathieson B.S.C. is one of a group of film makers who emerged out of the music video industry of the late 80's and 90's. His peers include cinematographers Tim Maurice Jones and Seamus McGarvey BSC and directors Michel Gondry and David Fincher...
, who has shot for films such as Gladiator
Gladiator (2000 film)
Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the loyal Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed...
, Matchstick Men
Matchstick Men
Matchstick Men is a 2003 American drama film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on Eric Garcia's novel Matchstick Men: A Novel about Grifters with Issues , the motion picture stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman.-Plot:...
and Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven (film)
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic action film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. It stars Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McKidd, Alexander Siddig, Ghassan Massoud, Edward Norton, Jon Finch, Michael Sheen and Liam...
.
Music
The song when Joe, dressed as Bryan Ferry, dances with Ruth is "If There Is SomethingIf There Is Something
"If There Is Something" is a song by Bryan Ferry, recorded by his band Roxy Music for their eponymous debut album. A live version can be found on their Viva! live-album....
", performed by Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, 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
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
, War Zone, and Harry Eden
Harry Eden
Harry Eden is an English actor who won a British Independent Film Award in 2003 for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in Pure....
.
The film's soundtrack plays a vital role for the plot. Director Baillie Walsh
Baillie Walsh
Baillie Walsh is a music video and film director. He is best known for writing and directing the film Flashbacks of a Fool starring Daniel Craig, Eve, Harry Eden, and Felicity Jones.-External links:...
had only directed music videos previous to directing Flashbacks of a Fool.
Reception
Review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 38% of critics gave positive based on 20 reviews. Critics called the script undeveloped. Craig's performance was generally praised.