Jean-Claude Van Damme walks into a post office. Anyone could make comedy gold out of this simple scenario. Director and co-writer Mabrouk El Mechri manages to make cinematic gold. With JCVD, he’s made a clever deconstruction of fame utilizing satire, biography, and the Mussels from Brussels. JCVD avoids being a spoof film, like I assumed it would be. While it takes excellent swipes at the action genre Van Damme and others like him are famous for, its goal is not to mock.

El Mechri sees the worth in a man who has been dumped into the action hero heap. It is remarkable that he does not attempt to shield Van Damme, nor does Van Damme appear to make any attempts to shield himself from the reality of his “fall” from Hollywood grace. Drugs, divorce, bad filmmaking, overexposure, love of fame, good intentions; it's shocking how much of Van Damme’s soul is exposed. He reveals the emotional complexities of being an ongoing action star considered a washed-up action star.

Van Damme became famous for a reason. El Mechri knows this, and acknowledges this very fact in one particular scene that is both amusing and rather exciting. But he never quite gives us the old hero. The film always reminds us of Van Damme's public rejection, and the current reality of his situation. At the end of the film, I was momentarily hesitant, believing that maybe El Mechri, Van Damme and crew are trying to pull a fast one. But why put so much obvious intent, skill and effort into a subject most people would have no issue with tearing apart?

I say this with absolutely no trace of cynicism, pity or humor: Jean-Claude Van Damme gives one of the BEST performances of the year. Of course, no one in Hollywood would dare sully their precious "integrity" by giving him even the most basic acknowledgment for this truly brave performance. And I mean for real brave, not oh-I'm-pretty-and-gained-weight-to-look-fugly brave. He certainly won't be nominated in any of the upcoming awards shows, though honestly each passing year further proves the worthlessness of such empty and thankless idolatry.

There's a scene late in the film where Van Damme directs his attention to the audience and spills his guts in one of the best monologues ever. I felt sincerity in his confession. It takes balls to say such things out loud and on camera. I instantly remembered what I enjoyed about Van Damme flicks. He was one of my favorite Hollywood action stars growing up. I liked how springy he was and his funny accent. There is enjoyment in every roundhouse kick, every split designed to showcase his limberness. Like most people, I've regarded him as a joke for quite a few years now, but that younger part of me watching JCVD remembered the excitement I felt just before he unleashed a can of whoop ass. The man is short, but he kicks high and with a dancer's grace. I respect that. You are LYING if during JCVD part of you isn't on the edge of your seat waiting for a full on karate infused brawl to break out.

Van Damme has been working steadily, same as his straight to DVD action hero arch nemesis Steven Seagal. Universal Soldier III is in the works, so it doesn't look like he'll be going the way of Day-Lewis anytime soon. It'd be nice to see him try something else with so much wit and emotion, but perhaps what makes JCVD work so well is its foundation in reality. Ultimately, Van Damme is free to do as he pleases, but after laying it all out there he has the opportunity to be even greater. Hopefully the right people catch this film.