JCVD

Rated R; 96min; Director:Mabrouk El Mechri  

Location: Alamo Downtown

"Van Damme is back! JCVD, a meta-movie parody par excellence, constitutes the headiest stretch of the beefy star's career since, well, ever. Playing "himself," Van Damme reveals heretofore hidden third dimension to his monosyllabic persona. Including a tonally opposite pair of longish takes -- one a wonderfully absurd ode to star's martial-arts moves, the other a tear- and prayer-filled Van Damme monologue that must be seen to be believed." - Variety

"That JCVD is able to show you a new face to its star and subject at all makes it a major accomplishment. That it does so with such an incredible sense of style, insight, and pure entertainment value makes it a revelation. Ladies and gentlemen, after spending decades turning out lowest-common-denominator action pictures Jean Claude Van Damme has just made a truly great film. No matter what criteria you may use to judge it - scripting, cinematography, humour, action, even dramatic performance - JCVD is one remarkable piece of work." - Todd Brown, Twitch Film

A reality-twisting cousin to BEING JOHN MALKOVICH -- showcases a Van Damme who's sly like a fox about his own image." - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme portrays a washed-up, aging action star. His career is a joke, he loses all of even the meager straight-to-video roles to his nemesis Stephen Segal and he's in a custody battle for his daughter who is too embarrassed of her father to consider living with him.

Returning to Brussels, he pops into a post office to send a money order to his divorce lawyer in Los Angeles only to find the facility held siege by robbers. The absurdity of the situation gradually escalates, and our action hero star must decide - cooperate or save the day in true hero fashion!

In a word, this role choice for Jean Claude Van Damme is BOLD. He's faced ninjas, wild animals, space aliens and multiple arenas of death, but in JCVD he's confronted with the naked truth of his own career: z-grade roles, worldwide ridicule, drug addiction, bad haircuts and some truly inspired wacko TV interviews, many of which are replayed in the film. The wickedly crisp script realistically captures the comedy inherent in the day-to-day life of a superstar: autograph and picture hounds, mocking haters and delusional uberfans. Through it all Jean Claude Van Damme delivers with such a sly wit and assured demeanor that for much of the film, I forgot I was watching a work of fiction, but was lost in what surely had to be a Jean Claude Van Damme reality show.

He understands the humor associated with his career, acknowledges it, pokes more than gentle fun at himself and even waxes philosophic on his past and his future. What emerges is a sophisticated, intelligent and wildly comedic performance. This is the stuff of true career renaissance. After this performance, Jean Claude Van Damme deserves a shot at the best roles in Hollywood!

Van Damme? God Damn! This movie is AWESOME! (Tim League)

With an All New Best and Worst of Van Damme Preshow!

Happy Hour Shows: Monday thru Friday shows that begin between 5pm and 6pm are Happy Hour Shows! We'll have $2 Tecate and Lone Star, $3.99 frozen margaritas, $1 off wells, $2 small popcorn and discounted theater admission. The Alamo Ritz: your new happy hour bar.

Balcony Reservations: The Alamo Ritz has two private balconies which seat up to 4 people per balcony. For more information and reservations, email Balcony@OriginalAlamo.com

Ticket Options on November 20: The Alamo Ritz has a special double feature available on this night. Come catch a rare 35mm screening of Bloodsport, then stay put for JCVD at midnight. You can buy the double feature ticket here.

Kid Policy: 18 and up; Children 6 and up will be allowed only with a parent or guardian. No children under the age of 6 will be allowed.

Screenings (click on a show time to buy tickets): No Shows Found