BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Helloturia I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Graeme Barrie Watched this film after intending to see it at the cinema upon its release and it ended up being a huge disappointment. The film feels like two beginnings and one ending without any substance in the middle, owing mainly to the concept of a large flashback as the second act. The performances of the piece's stars are admirable considering that the script leaves them little to no subtext available. The heavy-handed, clunky dialogue is written as if nobody in the film's world is able to infer anything or understand the meaning of implication. Nevertheless, Craig plays his role well and is the only character afforded any development throughout the piece even despite the stunted nature of the pretentious, literal dialogue. His younger counterpart Harry Eden is not afforded this much and is arguably saddled with even worse lines, but is at least able to bring a decent amount of presence to the teenage Joe Scot.There is a story missing in this film. The tragic tale of Joe's affair with Evelyn and the failing of his relationship with Ruth because of this could have been somewhat cut down in favour of emphasising and building upon what happens to Joe in between his decision to run away from home on the day of the child's funeral and his decision to return for Boots's. Instead, what is left are unanswered questions and this makes the feel not feel properly finished. Sadly, this appears to have been an intention and as a result, the film never gets above average at best.

TxMike I found this one on Netflix streaming movies. It starts quite spicily, with Joe Scot, successful film actor living and working in California, cavorting nude with two buxom young ladies. The next morning they get dressed and leave, while Joe is eventually awakened by his accountant and housekeeper. Joe seems to have no standards, no boundaries, and in a scene later that day also seems to have lost his luster. His fame may be running its course.The movie is mostly about Joe's younger life growing up in a seaside town in England. The adult Joe Scot is played very nicely by Daniel Craig. But we see that as a teen, growing up normally in many ways, he fell into a situation with an older woman, followed quickly by a tragedy, which got Joe to run away from his present, and to stay away from his past. For 25 years. He finally returns to his home when he gets word that his best teenage friend had died.It was a long and hard lesson for Joe to learn, how to achieve some happiness in his life.

sophiethompson378 Flashbacks of a Fool… Where to begin? As I began to watch the film, I had no idea what to expect. At first I anticipated a (500) Days of Summer type film, with irregular time shifts and jumps throughout. But after watching Daniel Craig skilfully applying his Touche Éclat I wondered whether it would have more of an American Psycho angle to it. In fact, after viewing the entire film I was still wondering what on earth the film was about. Yes, it was shot beautifully, and Emile Robert played the part of the stern anti-hero (the Young Daniel Craig) to a tee, but in my opinion the film lacked a certain something.. a storyline.In essence, this is basically a film about an obnoxious twerp who matures and grows into an even more obnoxious adult, who, despite having an enviable lifestyle and physique, insists on maintaining a frown throughout. You hate him as an adolescent, when he stands up his best friend's crush in order to have rampant sex with his mother's friend, and he has sex with said mother again, though this time her daughter ends up playing on an abandoned mine, and ends up getting blown up to smithereens. Oh, and Craig decides to make advances on his best friend's wife just hours after his funeral. And that's about it. I would definitely recommend this film, if you appreciate artistic cinema and naked flesh, but if you're after a gripping, eventful film, Flashbacks of a Fool is definitely worth avoiding. Not only is there no real conclusion, but if you're like me, you will genuinely wonder what on earth you spent the past 90 minutes or so watching. On the plus side though, the music is brilliant, especially if you happen to be a Bowie fan, and you get to see Daniel Craig's naked buttocks. Repeatedly.

MickyR I stopped going to the cinema in the early 1990s, got fed up with being disappointed with over-hyped crap. Flashbacks of a Fool was in the background on BBC1 last night, got drawn into it (no adverts!).If, like me, you left teenage love behind in early 1970s UK then watch at your peril, this will turn you inside out. It's about what was, what is and what could have been; the film generates a sense of loss, perhaps redeemable, who knows? To reach out to someone after nearly 40 years cannot possibly work ... can it? If you didn't leave love behind in early 1970s UK then it's passable, nothing more.Daniel Craig cannot act, but in the context of this film it doesn't matter; the story, images, soundtrack and supporting cast just steamroller over such minor considerations.Now off to the attic to search for some vinyl.