IMDb > Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)
Flashbacks of a Fool
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) -- A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend's funeral.
Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) -- MyMovies.Net - Clip - I read it in NME (WMV)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   3,424 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Baillie Walsh
Writer:
Baillie Walsh (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Flashbacks of a Fool on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 October 2008 (USA) more
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. | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Film Company Ordered To Pay For Damaged House
 (From WENN. 29 October 2008, 6:32 PM, PDT)
Flashbacks Of A Fool
 (From New York Post. 17 October 2008, 8:17 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A simple, but highly compelling and emotive tale . more (34 total)
US TV Schedule:
Thur. Dec. 33:25 AMTMC   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use.
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
Argentina:110 min | Greece:110 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Certification:
Ireland:16 | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:16 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Netherlands:12
Filming Locations:
London, England, UK more
Company:
Left Turn Films more

Fun Stuff

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?
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
References Ring of Bright Water (1969) more
Soundtrack:
Mozart: 1 Regina Coeli, Laetare more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "Flashbacks of a Fool" based on a book?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
24 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
A simple, but highly compelling and emotive tale ., 22 October 2008
8/10
Author: Jamie Ward from United Kingdom

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)

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (34 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
What happened to Evelyn???? manrique27
Too preditcable (SPOILERS) flyingDonkey
Indifferent pinkylulu
Ruth or Evelyn? gary_wildass1987
filming location in the beginning of the movie sash21008
SPOILER -- Was Ruth's reaction way over the top? dougrob173
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Quadrophenia Norma Jean & Marilyn The Young Americans Tsotsi Le violon rouge
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.