Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Baillie Walsh

Writer:

Baillie Walsh (writer)

Release Date:

17 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral. |

Cast

Emile Robert	...	Young Joe Scot
Daniel Craig	...	Adult Joe Scot
Julie Ordon	...	Carrie Ann
Gina Athans	...	Apple
Erich Conrad	...	Voice of Radio DJ (voice)
Eve	...	Ophelia Franklin
Emilia Fox	...	Sister Jean
Annabel Linder	...	Dawn
Angie Ruiz	...	Priscilla
Sue Dall	...	Maitre D
Mark Strong	...	Mannie Miesel
Pope Jerrod	...	Waiter
Darron Meyer	...	Valet
Harry Eden	...	Teenage Joe Scot
Max Deacon	...	Teenage Boots McKay
Olivia Williams	...	Grace Scot
Jodhi May	...	Evelyn Adams
Miriam Karlin	...	Mrs. Rogers
Mia Clifford	...	Young Jesse Scot
Jodie Tomlinson	...	Jane Adams
Helen McCrory	...	Peggy Tickell
James D'Arcy	...	Jack Adams
Alfie Allen	...	Kevin Hubble
Sid Mitchell	...	Chillo
Max Robson	...	Max
Jade Bryant	...	Teenage Girl
Felicity Jones	...	Young Ruth
Keeley Hawes	...	Adult Jesse Scot
Claire Forlani	...	Adult Ruth
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sid Karne	...	Man at Bar (uncredited)

Directed by
Baillie Walsh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Baillie Walsh		writer

Produced by
Steffen Aumueller	....	executive producer
Brian Avery	....	executive producer
Lene Bausager	....	producer
Dianne Beatty	....	line producer
Susanne Bohnet	....	executive producer
Said Boudarga	....	executive producer
Damon Bryant	....	producer
Claus Clausen	....	producer
Daniel Craig	....	executive producer
Sean Ellis	....	executive producer
Marina Grasic	....	executive producer
Genevieve Hofmeyr	....	producer
Jay Jopling	....	executive producer
Jan Korbelin	....	executive producer
Marshall Leviten	....	line producer: pre-production
Winnie Li	....	associate producer
Norman Merry	....	executive producer
Glenn M. Stewart	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Hartley

Cinematography by
John Mathieson

Film Editing by
Struan Clay

Casting by
Des Hamilton
Gaby Kester

Production Design by
Laurence Dorman

Art Direction by
Daniel Betteridge

Set Decoration by
Fred Du Preez
Shirley Lixenberg

Makeup Department
Raine Edwards	....	key hair stylist: South Africa
Raine Edwards	....	key makeup artist: South Africa
Denise Kum	....	makeup artist
Donald McInnes	....	head hair designer
Donald McInnes	....	head makeup designer
Laura Schiavo	....	key makeup artist
Sophie Slotover	....	hair trainee
Sophie Slotover	....	makeup trainee
Simone Stubbs	....	makeup artist
Lian van Wyk	....	assistant hair stylist: South Africa
Lian van Wyk	....	assistant makeup artist: South Africa

Production Management
Pierre Buys	....	unit manager
Meg Clark	....	post-production supervisor
Lisa Jordan	....	post production manager
Ciara McGowan	....	production manager
Deirdre Williams	....	production manager: South Africa

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Brewster	....	third assistant director: UK
Mark Hopkins	....	second assistant director: London
Alex Oakley	....	first assistant director
Jacques Terblanche	....	second second assistant director
Marci Trout	....	third assistant director
Patricia Wheeler	....	second assistant director: South Africa

Art Department
Will Ayres	....	stand-by props
Sacha Beattie	....	set dresser: South Africa
Maria Constantinides	....	art department coordinator
Kasey Coory	....	construction manager
Zoë Finch	....	assistant art director
Matthew Foster	....	chargehand stand-by props
Mark Hedges	....	prop storeman: UK
Egbert Kruger	....	property master: South Africa
Dougie Lankston	....	dressing props
Tom Olive	....	set dresser: South Africa
Clive Pollick	....	construction coordinator
Gigi Potter	....	construction administrator
Hannah Read	....	assistant set decorator
Robert Thorne	....	dressing props: UK
Nick Turnbull	....	property master
Liz van den Berg	....	head scenic
Claude Wittwen	....	property buyer: South Africa

Sound Department
Mark Auguste	....	supervising sound editor
Sam Auguste	....	dialogue editor
Christian Bourne	....	boom operator
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer
Wayne Dodd	....	boom operator: South Africa
Craig Irving	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrea King	....	foley artist
Conrad Kuhne	....	sound recordist
Mark Lafbery	....	foley recordist
Kevin McCue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Howie Nicol	....	sound recordist
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Chris Sturmer	....	sound consultant: dolby
Jack Whittaker	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Roly Jansen	....	special effects supervisor
Mickey Kirsten	....	special effects supervisor
Cordell McQueen	....	pyrotechnician
Vasili Rinquest	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Chris Bentley	....	digital lab operator
Tom Collier	....	digital compositor
Neil Culley	....	digital compositor
Stefan Drury	....	head of visual effects
Yanni Goudetsidis	....	systems engineer
David Margolis	....	digital compositor
Aileen McIntosh	....	digital lab operator: Lipsync Post
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post-production: Lip Sync Post
Glen Pratt	....	visual effects supervisor
Angela Rose	....	digital compositor
Abigail Scollay	....	digital compositor
Jon Stanley	....	senior systems engineer
Paul Venn Stirling	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Daniel Tomlinson	....	digital lab operator
Samantha Tracey	....	visual effects coordinator
Sheila Wickens	....	digital compositor
Blake Winder	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Dylan Wyn Owen	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Graeme Crowther	....	stunt coordinator: UK
Francois Grobbelaar	....	key stunt rigger
Sid Karne	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jacob Barrie	....	second assistant camera: UK
James Blyth	....	second assistant camera
Justin Brokensha	....	first assistant camera: 'b' camera
Trevor Michael Brown	....	camera operator
Greg Cameron	....	key grip
Kevin Day	....	gaffer
Bernett de Wet	....	best boy electric: South Africa (as Bernie de Wet)
Paul Edwards	....	Steadicam operator
Steve Ellingworth	....	grip: UK
Darren Flindall	....	rigger
Colin Gallagher	....	generator operator: UK
Paul Hatchman	....	grip: UK
Justin Hawkins	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Clive Jackson	....	camera operator
Jacob Mafolo	....	best boy grip
Tom McGinley	....	best boy
Keith McNamara	....	first assistant camera
Ross McNamara	....	clapper loader
Glen Milner	....	video assist operator
Sarel Pretorius	....	steadicam operator
Basil Smith	....	first assistant camera
John Trapman	....	aerial director of photography
Adrian Van Ass	....	grip (as Adrian Van As)
Jason Venter	....	grip
Nick Wall	....	still photographer
Steven J. Winslow	....	aerial camera technician: wescam camera

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Bonnie Lee Bouman	....	casting director: Johannesburg
Claire Catterson	....	casting assistant
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Des Hamilton	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tracey Berg	....	wardrobe supervisor: South Africa
Emma Bull	....	costume assistant: UK
Rae Donnelly	....	costume buyer
Claire Hardaker	....	costume assistant: UK
Nawaal Hendriks	....	stand-by costumer

Editorial Department
Paul Ensby	....	digital color timer
Jim Wright	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Alison Butters	....	music clearance
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Richard Hartley	....	conductor
Robin Morrison	....	music editor
Paul Talkington	....	music contractor
Gary Thomas	....	music engineer
Alan Wilson	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Pierre Buys	....	transport manager
Nick Dunn	....	transportation captain
Brian Kelly	....	transportation captain: UK
Steve Michard	....	driver: cast
Karen Russell	....	driver: minibus

Other crew
Rico Bailey	....	location assistant
Neil Bhatt	....	unit publicist
Kate Brontë-Stewart	....	floor runner
Billi Bruins	....	production accountant
Morag Cameron	....	script supervisor
Les Child	....	choreographer
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Jennifer DiZio	....	assistant to producer
Farnaz Donovan	....	assistant accountant
Jethro Ensor	....	assistant location manager: UK
Paul Ulrich Fischer	....	production assistant
Michael Harm	....	location manager
Paula Hind	....	production assistant
Christian Holden	....	production accountant
Aparna Jayachandran	....	continuity assistant
Marie Krige	....	payroll accountant
Jason Martin	....	marine coordinator
Collette Massier	....	production coordinator
Stephanie McGuire	....	assistant: cast
Simeon Mouton	....	manager: base camp
Philie Naughten	....	production coordinator: UK
Clodagh Quinlan	....	stand-in
Joy Sapieka	....	unit publicist
Mick Snell	....	location manager
Allen Szto	....	production manager: Los Angeles
Gert Uys	....	helicopter pilot: aerial unit
Nikki Wichmann	....	production secretary
Jerome Williams	....	production assistant
Verity Wislocki	....	adr coordinator

Thanks
Danny Mandel	....	many thanks

Production Companies

• Left Turn Films
• Ugly Duckling Films
• Lipsync Productions (funding)
• Sherazade Film Development
• Visitor Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Evolution Entertainment (2008) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (all media)
• Laptv (2009) (Argentina) (TV)
• TVA Films (2008) (Canada) (all media)

Special Effects

• Lip Sync Post (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lip Sync Post  digital intermediate film scanning
• Panalux  film lighting
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

Argentina:110 min | Greece:110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:16 | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:16 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:R21 (cut)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Left Turn Films

Quotes:

Boots: [In the Tunnel] Hey Joe! You know David Bowie believes in aliens?
Young Joe Scot: Yeah, I know.
[pause]
Young Joe Scot: You stink! You need a bath.
Boots: I had a bath.
Young Joe Scot: When?
Boots: I...
[thinking]
Young Joe Scot: Exactly! You never take a bath! You stink!
Boots: Well, how often do you have a bath then?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Ring of Bright Water (1969)

Soundtrack:

Fils de...

Quite possibly my favourite movie of 2008 - A story told with heartfelt emotion

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.