As a film of two halves, Flashbacks of a Fool nicely contrasts the present day life of Daniel Craig's fading movie star, a guy who has it all yet none of it can help him escape the emptiness inside, with the brief happiness he found during his simple youth in a British seaside town. The first half is highly enjoyable, Craig never less than entertaining as he lives a life of excess and self destructiveness. But the second half is where the magic happens as the film perfectly captures the nostalgia of youth through unforgettable moments tinged both with the optimism of what could have been and the tragedy that it is forever lost in the past. All to the backdrop of 70s music.
As you would expect given it's presence here, critics were unkind and the film is widely unheard of, but it is a highly likable story about regret and the fond memories you can never get back.
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Reply by bratface
on August 8, 2021 at 10:52 PM
I saw it about 10 years ago, gave it a 7.5/10. I decided to rewatch it. I will come back & maybe leave a different rating (upped it a half a point)?
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on August 9, 2021 at 10:06 PM
7.5 is pretty good. I'd probably give it the same, it's not the best film in the world, just one that seemed to appeal to me. I was thinking of rewatching it meself at some point.
Reply by bratface
on August 9, 2021 at 11:42 PM
The only thing was I had to watch it with commercials, which interrupts the flow. I also had forgotten about Jane & the bomb, so sad.
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on August 10, 2021 at 8:25 PM
Yes, I remember having to watch films with adverts, it would turn a 2 hour film into an entire evening. I can't remember Jane and the bomb, though my memory these days is terrible, but I guess that's a good thing for watching films again. You get to rediscover them.
Reply by bratface
on August 10, 2021 at 11:44 PM
I wasn't going to pay four dollars to see it, so chose the place that had ads (Plex). I upped it half a point mainly for the music: Bowie, Bryan Ferry, & Roxy Music!
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on August 11, 2021 at 2:06 PM
Yes, it really captured the time and place really well largely thanks to the music and the scenes where the characters bond over said music.