User reviews

This is my 1st ever post on IMDb so I apologise in advance if it's crap! I was 1 of the 1st members of public to see this film as I attended a preview for research and marketing purposes and i had to fill in a questionnaire at the end...yadayadayada (U know what i mean). The film was not what i expected at all. I was expecting a load of drug taking scenes and thought the whole film would have a "dirty" feel to it such as "Blow" or "Pulp Fiction" but it actually turned out to be a very sensitive film. I was moved by the emotional story of this guy's messed up childhood. I was extremely impressed by Claire Forlani's performance even though she's not in the film for that long. This film will give you goosebumps and a trembling lip from the emotional roller-coaster that is this Flashbacks Of A Fool. Good film. Girls in their 30s to late 40s will prefer it to guys. Great 70s Soundtrack (and that's coming from me, a 23 year old!) The soundtrack album should be really good.

Thanks for devoting 2 minutes of your life to read this! I really appreciate it.

Films of reflection are too few and often the result of climbing to a summit only to gaze back at the shadows never cast in the greedy race for the top ends i tragedy. FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL suggests, by its title, that the story may be different, that there may be some redemption at the core of an abusive life.

Writer/director Baillie Walsh sets his story in opening frames of intense sexual, drug accompanied debauchery. But as the credits fade, the lead character Joe Scott (Daniel Craig) faces a morning of hung over reality. A wealthy Hollywood star whose lifestyle has hastened his aging, Joe is 'managed' by the stern Ophelia (Eve) who is tiring of Joe's wasted lifestyle. Her warnings, as well as Joe's agent's confrontation that Joe is too old looking for a new screenplay, is compounded by a telephone call that Joe's boyhood friend Boots (Max Deacon) has suddenly died, leaving Joe's old first girlfriend Ruth (Claire Forlani) an early widow. Depressed and drunk Joe walks his beach and reflects on his youth. The 'flashback' tales us to Joe's teenage years (the young Joe is Harry Eden) with Boots as his closest friend and Ruth (Felicity Jones), the girl Joe craves. But hormones rule and Joe is an easy prey for his married next door neighbor: during one of their trysts a tragedy occurs that results in Joe's fleeing home for the 'successful' yet empty life he finds in Hollywood.

At the request of Joe's mother (Olivia Williams) he flies back to England where he is forced to confront the early damage he caused in the lives of his family and friends. Daniel Craig and Harry Eden are excellent in their mirrored roles of the young and the older Joe. In fact there is not a weak member of this fine British cast. Though the story takes place in England the film was shot in South Africa (cinematographer John Mathieson) and the rickety beach houses on the small bay where Boots and Joe spend their time is picturesque and adds the right sense of isolation to the story. At 114 minutes the film goes on a bit too long with areas for editing a bit too obvious. But the overall effect of FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL is a satisfying journey through a memory that holds a light to the incidents of youth that can alter too many lives if not mended. Grady Harp

This flick is starting to hit the US cable movie channels. I had never heard of it. I came away moved and impressed by this Daniel Craig project. "Shake your hair girl with your ponytail. Takes me right back..." OTHER: I found myself getting the female actors mixed up, but that's really my only problem with it. They look alike. The SA location fooled me completely and looked great. A refreshing change from the usual gritty rowhouse environment in which many British movies of this type are set. The film "Wish You Were Here" pushes similar buttons as this flick. Loved Ruth's 1970's wardrobe and the arcade that was apparently the center of life for these teens back in the day.

Loved the director's economy of actors. Most others would have had that arcade FILLED with extras cluttering up the scene. But in a memory, are there any extras?

I thought Flashbacks Of A Fool was about a decadent narcissist fast living actor and the crazy life he led with all the sex,drugs and parties. Well, it is but only in the first minutes of the film, what you'll see here is his childhood.After the death of his best friend, Joe Scott sits back and in a extended flashback the movie shows us how he was as a teenager and how life was in the 70's.The story is very interesting and the movie was beautifully shot and the musical score couldn't be more appropriated(just ignore that final music when the credits roll over).There's also a lip sync scene you won't forget. Daniel Craig was great, he has great charisma, I would really like to see more of him outside of the 007 franchise.Harry Eden did a great job as well and seems to be a very promising actor. Best movie I've seen in quite a while.

8/10

Although Flashbacks of a Fool is Daniel Craig's pet project – he's the film's executive producer as well as its star – it actually contains surprisingly little of the blonde hunk (though for the ladies out there, you do, admittedly, get to see his bum).

Craig plays Joe Scott, a movie star who has plenty of money and sexual satisfaction in his life, one which - when he is not indulging in coke-addled rumpy pumpy at least - is mostly spent looking out to the sea from his minimalist cliff-top pad.

Yet he has no real friends and seemingly no real future – "there's no role for you ANYWHERE," his agent tells Joe, a moment after he has seen his client throw his prized mobile phone out of a restaurant window.

As Joe begins to wonder what has happened to his life, we are taken back to his adolescent days of first love on the quiet English seaside, to discover what this Brit has in fact been trying to hide from with a life of debauchery and excess in LA.

Even a fan of this film should be able see why some might find it slow and slightly dull, as it does rely on the viewer sharing in a sense of glory in the mystical power of great records, the tragic romance of nostalgia and regret, and the theme of washed-up stardom.

Perhaps that provides limited scope for the film to garner a wide audience, but for those who can find true enjoyment from subtle portrayals of youth and humanity as much as from the more obvious merits of rapid plot progression that will matter little. The direction is superb, the script never feels rushed, and the wistful tone of someone looking back to their yesterdays to get on with their today is rare in its realisation of artistic vision.

There's no big finale, but that's not to say that the conclusion is anything less than perfect in its mood and its timing. A literate film that is there to relish on a quiet afternoon, Flashbacks of a Fool feels more typical of a book by Ian McEwan (though thankfully it bears little in common to the cinematic version of Atonement) than a film starring the current Bond. It could also have you listening to Roxy Music for the rest of your weekend, even if you've never before had the urge to sing along to Bryan Ferry in the bath - a pleasing added bonus.

There is nothing foolish about this film – watch it accordingly.

There's a saying I heard a long time ago... "The person that's got everything has nothing" and this movie kind of explains one way of looking at it (in my opinion).

In a materialistic influenced world we live in it can be easy to fall into how believing happiness and wellbeing comes only from having all the things wealth can bring i.e. the clean cut minimalist house walking out onto the white sand overlooking a beautiful serene sea, a selection of gleaming new sports cars, the tailored clothes etc etc. But I guess for some people who have reached this place/goal in their life have focused on the goal so much that they've forgotten where they've come from and what they may have been running from.

Now what this gem of a movie does is carefully and meticulously unravel the story of a troubled man in this very situation, dealing with the daemons of his past, the spontaneous difficult decisions he had to make as a boy which has carved this stone cold embodiment of a man on the edge of existence.

Now I'm not going to break down and dissect this film and give a whole rundown on how and why I think this is a great movie but I will say this. The story of a nasty main character (amazing job from both Daniel Craig and Harry Eden) and showing the world that he lives in and lived in by slowly letting the viewer past his metaphorical protective wall while allowing the viewer to piece together how and why he is the way he is, is presented exquisitely.

I don't want to give anything away on the plot and story but I have to say there where two parts that absolutely blew me away and I'll just give you a vague hint. One involving a shot of artwork with intention of displaying a contrast of relation between the background and foreground giving an artistic viewpoint on the real subject matter (works on so many levels) and the other being a close up shot which encapsulated a lot of emotion and made my heart just drop.

all in all the whole production was done well, especially the editing (even though it's obviously apparent they had some great content to work with) and did, for me, what all great stories do, kept me entertained through demanding my full attention and rewarding that attention in the form of an emotional roller-coaster.

Last note: please try not to second guess while trying to predict what's coming next and how it ends. Just enjoy the story that is being told because it's been executed very well.

PS: I would have given this a 10 but wanted other readers to take this review seriously as I do love the art of storytelling, especially a good movie and it's unfortunate that there's too many marketing teams pushing up star ratings here on IMDb.

Thanks for reading my first review and I hope you enjoy "Flashbacks of a Fool" as much as I did.

Joe Scot (Daniel Craig) lives a hedonistic Hollywood life. His closest relationship is his assistant Ophelia Franklin (Eve). The self-obsessed actor's career is failing and he gets fired by his agent. His mother calls with bad news about his childhood friend Boots' passing. It's a seaside town in 70's Britain. Teenagers Joe Scot (Harry Eden) and Boots are trouble makers. Joe has a fling with neighbor housewife Evelyn (Jodhi May). He falls for Ruth (Felicity Jones).

The structure is thirty minutes of Daniel Craig, fifty minutes of the past, and twenty minutes of Daniel Craig to wrap it up. It's a rudimentary structure coming from director Baillie Walsh who is more experienced as a music video director. The start has a few interesting bits and Daniel Craig. I don't buy the agent having a fit. Agents are weasels and they would never outright fire a star. They would more likely ghost them. As for the finale, there isn't much drama. Essentially, one can't go home again. Craig is good but I question whether the bookend segments need to be that long. The meat of the story is the flashback. In that section, the story is hampered by a lackluster lead. It does have the electricity of Felicity Jones but the boy has limited acting skills. He is very pretty but lacks charisma. There is a general lack of intensity with the movie. The best scene may well be Felicity Jones dancing in slow motion. This has some interesting bits but lacks tension overall.

This film was right up my street. I would recommend it to anyone who is happy and indeed eager to become emotionally involved in a story. I have to say that the lip sync sequence was outstanding and it stayed in my head for days afterwards. I was thinking about the film for days after I'd seen it. There was something incredible for me in the way the whole film was shot but especially the flashbacks to the seaside - it awoke something for me from that era that I had forgotten about from my childhood and I found it strangely comforting. Not that I grew up near the sea but it struck a chord deep inside. How great to be able to capture something so brilliantly and bring it to life for others. I am envious of Baillie WALSH for this but thank God for him also. I look forward to seeing what else can be done.

Daniel CRAIG was stunning in the role, and brought it to life by showing us something we haven't seen in him too often - the sadder/nastier character - although his physique was maybe a little too perfect to make the decadent, fast living, hedonistic junkie completely believable - although I will forgive him for this! Harry EDEN who played the young Joe showed us all the awkwardness of youth and adolescence along with the desperation to grow up and all it's pitfalls. He was stunning on screen and oozed fragility. I would have liked to see the link showing how young Joe became an actor but understand there is a limit to how long a film can reasonably be.

Similarly to NOTES ON A SCANDAL and THE MOTHER - this for me was the kind of film that I could enjoy over and over and each time still feel that I am a seeing something I shouldn't - like a secret - and watching every delicious moment without being noticed myself.

This surreal whimsical story of growing pains, regret and redemption, parallels a lonely coastal hamlet in the 1970's as the flashback; with a contemporary luxurious and stylish, but lonely uba-villa in the noughties as the outcome. Jo's life has been colourful, and a phone call in a moment of crisis, takes him Right Back To When He Was Young. We are reminded that the past is ever present in our lives, and has the power through music and emotions, to re-connect us to what really mattered to us; even as we lost ourselves in worldly affairs. Obscure but Wonderful.

Joe Scott is a washed up actor who returns back to his hometown after a dear friend has passed. He is a very selfish and angry person, but as he gets closer to his home, the more human and caring feelings begin to take hold of him and change him.

Those are the best things about this film. The good nostalgic feeling about family, old friends, familiar places and music you grew up with. It shows what a humble and optimistic feeling that is. There are moments with the main character in the first and third acts that are almost heartbreaking and you can almost feel what he is going through. Realizing how self-centered you've been for too long and forgetting to look around and enjoy.

Unfortunately the film slows down heavily after the first 30 minutes when the "Flashback section" begins. These 40 minutes of the film were not appealing and dragged the whole experience down. The characters in this section act in a way that made me not care in the slightest and I began to think that these were two different films put into one. I wanted to get invested, but that story line was off putting and provocative, even disgusting at times because of what certain people did. If someone else likes this part of the film, that's good, I wish I could feel the same. But it just didn't work for me. Showing the character change and become a better human worked well enough in the present time line for me. The past time line would have worked better for me if it was left more ambiguous.

The last act again is better and I cared for Joe returning home and reconnecting with his life. The greatness in this film lies in its quiet and calm moments when characters are reflecting and not when its trying to chock or exploit the audience.

If you ever watch it, then watch the first 30 minutes and then skip ahead 40 minutes and watch the ending. Those are the parts of the film that are gonna leave you feeling optimistic.

How far do our decisions in life take us, and how long do we eventually live by the ripples that such choices create? Flashbacks of a Fool, the debut feature from writer and director Ballie Walsh, takes it upon itself to divulge in such questions, and the answers that it gives, although extremely simplified and a little underwhelming in scope, nevertheless pack a resounding and emotional punch. Taking its time to develop rounded characters that stay within the confines of real life whilst managing to retain a sense of compelling relevancy, the feature tells a story that most audiences should be able to take something from. Sure it sometimes moves at a snail's pace, and suffers from an extremely incoherent third act, yet despite the movie's biggest problems, it's the things that Walsh does right that makes Flashbacks such an enjoyable drama for anyone that likes to explore the darker sides of human desire.

A story with three distinct, crudely sewn together acts, Flashbacks of a Fool tells the story of a has-been actor, now spending most of his days drinking, doing drugs and paying women to sleep with him. Opening with current day Joe Scott (Daniel Craig) the movie introduces us to the waster in a very poignant and effective first act that details Joe's incessant need for indulgence at the expense of everyone around him. This in turn then sets up the real meat of the story, which in turn is set a good twenty or thirty years in the past, back in Joe's teenage years. Through this lens we observe Joe as he chooses the paths that eventually lead to the character we have so far been introduced to. Of course, we know instinctively where it's all going to go, and Walsh's script sometimes gets caught up in details involving this development, but in turn it is these details that give Flashbacks its heart and soul.

The details I'm referring to of course are little things called characters; Walsh makes sure to keep Flashbacks of a Fool rich in characterization, by using only a minimum ensemble. Through this the film manages to convey both the character of Joe and his decisions in an objective light; we see the decisions he makes, and the people that those decisions affect, most of the time without him realizing. Coming full circle with a scene that capitalizes on the real selfish nature of both his and another character's choices, the movie achieves its resonating moment of poignancy through a death that is built upon drawing tears. From here on in Flashbacks never quite reaches the same height, and the pacing and overall structure is bothersome, particularly during a mostly useless third act which staples itself to act two as a kind of conclusion that fails to offer much –if any- resolution.

Such is Flashbacks of a Fool's biggest problem; its framing and structure. Although each segment is finely told and expertly shot, the script always comes across as being informant, but incoherently so. As a result, the middle act never truly feels connected to the two that bookmark it, and obviously certain characterisation is null and negated as a consequence. The performances from Craig, and standout Harry Eden who plays Joe as a teenager, are solid enough, and play to the same grounding personality traits to offer a sense of progression from A to B, yet the script's slapped together and undeveloped feel often distracts away from these highlights. Nevertheless, with a wonderful ensemble cast mostly comprising of minor-star English talents, Flashbacks isn't just a powerful, and relevant story told with three dimensional characters; the cast themselves embody their personas effectively and with great consistency, at least until the third act. But then again, you can't blame them for getting confused with such a massive leap in narrative.

Perhaps one of the standout features of the film however lies in its aesthetic design. From the magnificent on-location settings to the retro costumes, cinematographer John Mathieson has the wonderful job here of capturing it all as best as he can, and that he does. Not only does he frame his wide-angle establishing shots with a serene sense of natural beauty, but there are also many instances of remarkable angles, lens effects and framings of much closer shots that embody similar moods; evoking both emotion towards the characters on screen, and at the same time capturing moments usually punctuated with a song from the nostalgic soundtrack with much needed simplicity. And yet, this is essentially what Flashbacks of a Fool comes down to; it's simplicity. Detailing the paths of a young man and how he came to be the wasted, indulgent has-been that he is, Flashbacks is a simple, but highly compelling and emotive tale about humanity, our desires, choices and companions that travel with us along the way. It may not be a smooth journey by any means, but it's got enough heart to make it a memorable and rewarding one.

• A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)

Saw the movie yesterday and enjoyed it in places but left overall with the feeling that the characters could have been so much better developed. Was it me or was Daniel Craig still in Bond moody mode? The opening really did drag as we given an insight into Joe's lifestyle over in the USA. Did I hear a dodgy twang in Emilia Fox's accent? Anyway, there was scope for so much more, especially if you consider the popularity of recent throwback series such as Life on Mars. The section centred on the whole beach holiday thing did work quite well. The ending was left hanging as far as I can see - what did he write to make Ruth bawl so loudly over the din of the M25? So, yes, I enjoyed it but I want to know about the chronology - was it set in 1972ish, as the clothing would suggest, because if so that would make Daniel Craig nearer 50 than 40. Wouldn't it? It didn't spoil the enjoyment though. Go and see it and make your own mind up.

Daniel Craig is Joe Scott, a Hollywood star who ruined his career as a self indulgent fool in drugs, sex, alcohol & pathetic behavior. After initial few moments in the ruined life of Scott, the movie turned into the flashback showing the absurd youth & the tragic blunders of teenager Scott. Some scenes make me think- i.e. a scene which started with pure lust & ends with a permanent lost of child by a careless, jealous & lust driven neighborhood mother. The scene is really beautifully portrayed showing the momentum of all the characters simultaneously representing different natural human instincts of infatuation, innocence, absurdity, responsibility, care & carelessness. More than the character study the film displays the absurdity of young age & how it grips & entangles one's life for once & forever. One more natural scene gets the attention in the end when out of the flashback Scott went back to cemetery to attend the funeral of his friend who married with his first dated girl & it's so real & natural. Yes, Craig tried to act here leaving his Bond image aside but its portrayal which seems more praiseworthy. It also has certain nudity of Craig (absolutely unnecessary) & boring moments as well. The movie has certain eye candy long shots reflecting ocean & meadows. Direction & script is credible.

Recommend 2 watch.

Ratings- 7/10

I really loved this movie! It makes you to think and talk about it after you have seen it. Sometimes when you are so high in your life you're living,nothing is important more than yourself until something personally hits you This film tells you that you have to go down rock bottom to stop and realize your past and your mistakes you have done. And this one film tells you everything you need to know about mistakes when we are still innocent and young and in the same time even when you are young you still feel guilt of what happens around you. But it is never too late and i think everyone deserves a second chance. It took me 3 months when i decided to rent it and i said to give it a go and i really enjoyed watching it. Very Good Drama!!

This is perhaps the worst movie I have seen since Igby Goes Down. It is truly awful. Walsh cannot direct or write. He can make pop videos and probably rather good adverts. The script is woeful, the story pointless. Craigs character, whilst shown at the beginning as a self-obsessed, over indulgent movie star never redeems himself throughout the movie, which I imagine was meant to be the reason for the two hours of tiresome clichés. Craig's character at one point asks his agent if he has read the script to movie he hopes to be in. I was left wondering if Craig even read the script before he agreed to be executive producer and lead actor! The audience in the cinema I saw this movie in were just laughing at the ridiculously melodramatic ending. A naked Daniel Craig, and a quick flash of Jodie May's tits do not make a good movie. Utter, utter testicles. Walsh may think a good taste in music and architecture and Daniel Craig walking around like John Wayne with hemorrhoids makes a great film but he is sorely mistaken. He should never be allowed near a movie camera again, and Daniel Craig should apologise for being involved in such an enormous pile of the brown stuff.

Having seen Shine a Light last week I thought it would be quite difficult to plum such depths of mediocrity but Walsh has managed it.

Cleverly written step back into how our lives get mixed up and don't get sorted at source so they effect our later lives. The simple truths are realised here, many 30-40 somethings will find many references to their own lives,release those feelings and we can live again. Simple good acting, good story, fantastic music, and very good emotional but simple ride, more of the same please. Daniel Craig plays emotionally pent up, spent up actor well, lovely mid scenes of the way we were in the early seventies. The Roxy Music song played in my head for a week after and i;d never heard it before. A must see for any romantic or any amateur psychologist or spiritualist or anybody living a life with repressed emotions...oh thats everybody then.

"Flashbacks of a Fool" offers an introspective look at the life of a washed-up actor, beautifully portrayed by Daniel Craig. The film explores themes of regret, nostalgia, and the impact of choices made throughout one's life. While it has its moments of brilliance, it ultimately struggles to maintain a consistent tone and pace.

The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, taking the audience on a journey from the protagonist's youthful ambitions to his present-day disappointments. The cinematography captures both the vibrancy of youth and the starkness of reality, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative. However, the shifts between past and present can sometimes feel disjointed, detracting from the overall flow of the film.

Craig's performance is undeniably strong, displaying a range of emotions that make the character relatable. The supporting cast, including the talented Billie Piper, adds depth to the story, but some characters feel underdeveloped, leaving the audience wanting more from their arcs.

The film's soundtrack plays a significant role in evoking nostalgia, with carefully chosen songs that enhance key moments. Yet, at times, the reliance on music to convey emotion feels heavy-handed, overshadowing the story itself.

While "Flashbacks of a Fool" offers poignant reflections on life and missed opportunities, it occasionally falters in execution. The pacing can be uneven, and the narrative might leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied. Overall, it's an interesting film that showcases Craig's talent but falls short of its potential, earning a respectable 6/10 rating. A worthwhile watch for fans of introspective cinema, though it may not resonate with everyone.