During the closing credits of “The Last Mercenary,” we see a montage of Jean-Claude Van Damme in the various getups he wore during the movie (a fuzzy beard; a mustache and Yankees cap; a blond wig; a Bond tuxedo; drag). The film presents this cavalcade of mostly routine disguises with wide-eyed affection, as if it were showing us Peter Sellers in his “Pink Panther” prime. It’s all part of the delusion that the makers of “The Last Mercenary” (who are French) are apparently under: that Jean-Claude Van Damme is no mere action star — that he’s a stylish comedian, an icon of such ironic charisma that we’d follow him anywhere, even through the paces of a maladroit caper movie like this one.
Van Damme was always a good-looking bruiser, sleeker than those other martial-arts poster boys Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal. He’s 60 now, which in our world...
Van Damme was always a good-looking bruiser, sleeker than those other martial-arts poster boys Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal. He’s 60 now, which in our world...
- 7/31/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
The Last Mercenary; In French with English Subtitles Netflix Reviewed for Shockya.com by Abe Friedtanzer Director: David Charhon Writer: David Charhon, Ismaël Sy Savané Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor, Miou-Miou Screened at: Critics’ link, LA, 7/26/21 Opens: July 30th, 2021 (Netflix) There’s an interesting contradiction in […]
The post The Last Mercenary Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Last Mercenary Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/30/2021
- by abe
- ShockYa
Everybody’s favorite high-kicking, Belgian action hero, Jean-Claude Van Damme, is back in “The Last Mercenary.” The team behind the throwback action flick was on-hand (virtually) to debut an exclusive sneak peek from the Netflix movie at San Diego Comic-Con.
The new scene was introduced by Van Damme and the film’s writer-director David Charhon at Comic-Con at Home Saturday afternoon.
The clip begins with a hooded man bound to a chair in a dingy room. What the incoming soldiers don't see, however, is Richard (Van Damme), posed in his signature splits on the ceiling. He leaps down and disarms them with unsurprising ease and frees the prisoner. Richard ends up having to wheel the clumsy prisoner out of the building on a gurney before leaping out of a window to complete the rescue mission -- only after punching out some more soldiers for good measure though.
Richard, a former...
The new scene was introduced by Van Damme and the film’s writer-director David Charhon at Comic-Con at Home Saturday afternoon.
The clip begins with a hooded man bound to a chair in a dingy room. What the incoming soldiers don't see, however, is Richard (Van Damme), posed in his signature splits on the ceiling. He leaps down and disarms them with unsurprising ease and frees the prisoner. Richard ends up having to wheel the clumsy prisoner out of the building on a gurney before leaping out of a window to complete the rescue mission -- only after punching out some more soldiers for good measure though.
Richard, a former...
- 7/24/2021
- by Alex Noble
- The Wrap
"The Last Mercenary" is the new action comedy feature, directed by David Charhon, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla and Samir Decazza, streaming July 30, 2021 on Netflix:
"...a mysterious former secret service agent returns to France...
"...when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...a mysterious former secret service agent returns to France...
"...when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 6/8/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
"Life is one long op." Netflix has launched the first official trailer for a new French action film called The Last Mercenary, aka Le Dernier Mercenaire in French, from filmmaker David Charhon. This new Jcvd action comedy is dropping on Netflix right away at the end of July this summer. A mysterious former secret service known as "La Brume" (or "The Mist") agent must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as the father who must come back to France and save his son, along with Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor, and Miou-Miou. Not sure why Jcvd is wearing so many goofy disguises in this, but it looks like some throwaway fun. The only thing that really makes...
- 6/7/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Alban Ivanov and Sabrina Ouazani lead the cast of the filmmaker’s latest opus, an Escazal Films production set to be sold worldwide by TF1 Studio. The French department of Cantal has seen the first clapperboard slammed on Jean-Pierre Améris’ 13th fiction feature film: Les folies fermières. Starring in the cast are Alban Ivanov, Sabrina Ouazani, Michèle Bernier (of the series The Intern), Guy Marchand (recently seen in season 3 of Call My Agent!) and Bérangère Krief. Written by Jean-Pierre Améris, Marion Michau and Jean-Luc Gaget (the winner of 2017’s Best Original Screenplay César for The Together Project who was also...
Netflix has boarded new action-packed film projects in France, including the sequel of Guillaume Pierret’s thriller “Lost Bullet,” and Regis Blondeau’s “A Tombeau Ouvert,” a remake of the Korean film “A Hard Day.”
The service’s slate of Originals for 2021, meanwhile, comprises the action movie “The Last Mercenary” with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the series “Braqueurs,” a spinoff of Julien Leclercq’s movie.
The service is expecting to roll out 27 French Originals by the end of 2021, according to Anne-Gabrielle Dauba-Pantanacce, head of communications at Netflix.
The titles were announced during a virtual presentation of Netflix’s French slate for 2021, hosted by Damien Couvreur, head of French series originals, Sara May, Netflix’s head of acquisitions and co-productions for France and Italy, and Dauba-Pantanacce.
“Lost Bullet” is high-concept thriller revolving around a man who gets arrested after a failed robbery and starts working for a cop unit to avoid going to jail.
The service’s slate of Originals for 2021, meanwhile, comprises the action movie “The Last Mercenary” with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the series “Braqueurs,” a spinoff of Julien Leclercq’s movie.
The service is expecting to roll out 27 French Originals by the end of 2021, according to Anne-Gabrielle Dauba-Pantanacce, head of communications at Netflix.
The titles were announced during a virtual presentation of Netflix’s French slate for 2021, hosted by Damien Couvreur, head of French series originals, Sara May, Netflix’s head of acquisitions and co-productions for France and Italy, and Dauba-Pantanacce.
“Lost Bullet” is high-concept thriller revolving around a man who gets arrested after a failed robbery and starts working for a cop unit to avoid going to jail.
- 3/30/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video has boarded Melanie Laurent’s anticipated period mystery thriller “Le bal des folles” as its first Original movie in France.
“Le bal des folles” is produced by Alain Goldman and Axelle Boucaï at Legende Films. Amazon Prime Video will launch the film exclusively in France and around the world in 2021.
The movie will start shooting next week in Rochefort, in western France. Penned by Laurent and Christophe Deslandes, “Le bal des folles” is based on the award-wining novel of the same name by Victoria Mas.
The film takes place at the end of the 19th century in Paris, at a time when women deemed too rebellious or difficult were frequently labeled as insane and institutionalized. The action unfolds at the Salpêtrière hospital where such women, diagnosed with different kinds of nervous system disorders, were confined and put under the supervision of neurologists such as Jean-Martin Charcot. Each year,...
“Le bal des folles” is produced by Alain Goldman and Axelle Boucaï at Legende Films. Amazon Prime Video will launch the film exclusively in France and around the world in 2021.
The movie will start shooting next week in Rochefort, in western France. Penned by Laurent and Christophe Deslandes, “Le bal des folles” is based on the award-wining novel of the same name by Victoria Mas.
The film takes place at the end of the 19th century in Paris, at a time when women deemed too rebellious or difficult were frequently labeled as insane and institutionalized. The action unfolds at the Salpêtrière hospital where such women, diagnosed with different kinds of nervous system disorders, were confined and put under the supervision of neurologists such as Jean-Martin Charcot. Each year,...
- 11/12/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme has begun shooting in France for a Netflix action-comedy called “The Last Mercenary,” Netflix announced Friday.
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
- 7/31/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is currently shooting action-comedy “The Last Mercenary” in France for Netflix, being directed by David Charhon (“On the Other Side of the Tracks”).
In the French-language film, written by Charhon and Ismael Sy Savane (“Lascars”), Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation.
The cast also includes Alban Ivanov (“Lucky”), Assa Sylla (“Mortel”) and Samir Decazza (“Valide”).
The film is produced by Jean-Charles Levy and Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures); Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures); David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon and Eponine Maillet (Mony Films); and Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
This is the first time that the Muscles from Brussels is attempting an action-comedy and it is also his...
In the French-language film, written by Charhon and Ismael Sy Savane (“Lascars”), Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation.
The cast also includes Alban Ivanov (“Lucky”), Assa Sylla (“Mortel”) and Samir Decazza (“Valide”).
The film is produced by Jean-Charles Levy and Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures); Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures); David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon and Eponine Maillet (Mony Films); and Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
This is the first time that the Muscles from Brussels is attempting an action-comedy and it is also his...
- 7/31/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is underway in France on Jean-Claude Van Damme action-comedy The Last Mercenary from director David Charhon (The Other Side Of The Tracks).
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
- 7/31/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Muscles from Brussels has officially booked his first feature with Netflix.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
- 7/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Muscles From Brussels has officially booked his first feature with Netflix.
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
Jean-Claude Van Damme has started shooting The Last Mercenary, David Charhon's action-comedy also starring Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Being shot in France, the film sees Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to the country when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
"The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and ...
- 7/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
If virtual education in the time of Covid-19 makes you nostalgic for the sight of students and teachers occupying actual classrooms, Netflix invites you to matriculate at School Life. Despite a tendency to go soft when the going gets tough, this French-Arabic comedy-drama, originally titled La Vie Scolaire, earns solid marks for a keep-it-real approach to the subject of classrooms on the fringes. The setting is a middle school in Saint-Denis, a Paris suburb populated largely by non-white migrants. The students are a wild bunch not given to study, obedience or self-control.
- 4/9/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
"His organization responds to acute needs." Madman Films out of Australia has debuted an official English-subtitled trailer for the acclaimed, beloved French drama (originally) called The Specials. Apparently for the Australian release they've retitled it to The Extraordinary, which sort of still works I guess, but okay whatever. No need for a new name. This is from the same two talented French filmmakers who made The Intouchables, and this time they tell the story of two based-on-real-people social support caregivers for autistic children and teens. Vincent Cassel and Reda Kateb star as two of the most caring, loving guys you'll ever meet - as Bruno and Malik. The full cast also includes Hélène Vincent, Bryan Mialoundama. Alban Ivanov, Benjamin Lesieur, Marco Locatelli, and Catherine Mouchet. It's a wonderful film. I saw it at the San Sebastian Film Festival and loved everything about it - read my glowing review. It truly is a "special", warm,...
- 11/29/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Gaumont is reteaming with “The Intouchables” and “C’est La Vie” production banner Quad on Mohamed Hamidi (“One Man and His Cow”)’s concept company “Queens of The Field.”
The movie is set in a small rural town which is on the verge of losing its funding along with its field. The threat leads the town women to join forces and launch a football crew in order to defend their city. But in a community where football has always been considered a men’s sport, the women’s team turns the town upside down.
“Queens of The Field” is headlined by a strong French cast, including Kad Merad (“Little Nicholas”), Alban Ivanov (“Sink or Swim”), Sabrina Ouazani (“Taxi 5”) and Céline Sallette (“The Returned”).
Hamidi previously directed “One Man and His Cow,” which grossed over $10 million and was nominated for a European Film Award in 2016.
Gaumont described the film...
The movie is set in a small rural town which is on the verge of losing its funding along with its field. The threat leads the town women to join forces and launch a football crew in order to defend their city. But in a community where football has always been considered a men’s sport, the women’s team turns the town upside down.
“Queens of The Field” is headlined by a strong French cast, including Kad Merad (“Little Nicholas”), Alban Ivanov (“Sink or Swim”), Sabrina Ouazani (“Taxi 5”) and Céline Sallette (“The Returned”).
Hamidi previously directed “One Man and His Cow,” which grossed over $10 million and was nominated for a European Film Award in 2016.
Gaumont described the film...
- 1/18/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
I went into Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano’s latest film C’est la vie! knowing nothing about it. My assumption from their two previous works, Intouchables and Samba, was that it would prove a charmingly funny dramedy tinged with relevant politics and racial complexity. Well, I was wrong. Whereas the latter film honed in on the former’s politics, this one strips them away completely to focus solely on the comedy. The result is an uproariously contemporary riff on Robert Altman’s underrated classic A Wedding. While it doesn’t spread out quite so large a net—focusing almost exclusively on wedding planner Max (Jean-Pierre Bacri) and his eccentric crew—it still wonderfully distills the fiscal and logistical absurdity of such formally traditional celebrations with biting satire, broad pratfalls, and expertly rendered caricature to its essence.
They don’t ease us in either as the tone immediately reveals itself.
They don’t ease us in either as the tone immediately reveals itself.
- 9/9/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
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