IMDb > Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)
Flashbacks of a Fool
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Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) More at IMDbPro »

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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)
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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   3,443 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:
Sometimes it takes a knell... 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 "Coronation Street" (1960) more
Soundtrack:
It Ain't Easy more

FAQ

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

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
16 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
Sometimes it takes a knell..., 13 November 2008
8/10
Author: gradyharp from United States

Films of reflection are too few and often the result of climbing to a summit only to gaze back at the shadows never cast in the greedy race for the top ends i tragedy. FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL suggests, by its title, that the story may be different, that there may be some redemption at the core of an abusive life.

Writer/director Baillie Walsh sets his story in opening frames of intense sexual, drug accompanied debauchery. But as the credits fade, the lead character Joe Scott (Daniel Craig) faces a morning of hung over reality. A wealthy Hollywood star whose lifestyle has hastened his aging, Joe is 'managed' by the stern Ophelia (Eve) who is tiring of Joe's wasted lifestyle. Her warnings, as well as Joe's agent's confrontation that Joe is too old looking for a new screenplay, is compounded by a telephone call that Joe's boyhood friend Boots (Max Deacon) has suddenly died, leaving Joe's old first girlfriend Ruth (Claire Forlani) an early widow. Depressed and drunk Joe walks his beach and reflects on his youth. The 'flashback' tales us to Joe's teenage years (the young Joe is Harry Eden) with Boots as his closest friend and Ruth (Felicity Jones), the girl Joe craves. But hormones rule and Joe is an easy prey for his married next door neighbor: during one of their trysts a tragedy occurs that results in Joe's fleeing home for the 'successful' yet empty life he finds in Hollywood.

At the request of Joe's mother (Olivia Williams) he flies back to England where he is forced to confront the early damage he caused in the lives of his family and friends. Daniel Craig and Harry Eden are excellent in their mirrored roles of the young and the older Joe. In fact there is not a weak member of this fine British cast. Though the story takes place in England the film was shot in South Africa (cinematographer John Mathieson) and the rickety beach houses on the small bay where Boots and Joe spend their time is picturesque and adds the right sense of isolation to the story. At 114 minutes the film goes on a bit too long with areas for editing a bit too obvious. But the overall effect of FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL is a satisfying journey through a memory that holds a light to the incidents of youth that can alter too many lives if not mended. Grady Harp

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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
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