JCVD was one of the highlights at Cannes. If I have my way, it will be the highlight at TIFF as well.

I had an extra pass for the Friday afternoon screening of JCVD, so I paced along the rush line with the golden ticket, but I wasn't about to give it away; someone was going to have to earn it. I quizzed the lineup with some pretty generic questions about Van Damme's films from the 80s and early 90s. When nobody could bite, it dawned on me that many of the people in line were all quite young, and probably didn't grow up in a time when the release of a new Van Damme film was a big deal. Heck ? I have a longstanding agreement with a friend of mine that we alert one another whenever The Quest is on TBS.

JCVD is director Mabrouk el Mechri's sophomore feature effort. With the style and substance he manages to bring to the film, you would think he's been at this for much longer. From the slightly over-exposed look of the film to the self-reflective nature of the well written script, the film delivers on more levels than I'd expected. El Mechri is the Billy Wilder to Van Damme's Gloria Swanson.

No, Van Damme doesn't descend a grand staircase in an evening gown, but there's also nothing about Van Damme in this film that drips of exaggeration. Being 47 years old and running through five-minute long action takes can't be an easy task, but he's still doing it. He really has had tax problems, custody battles, and those French-language interviews where he pontificates in a sort of 'zen frenglish' are legit, only we've never been exposed to that side of Van Damme in North America. As far as we're concerned, he's merely gone the way of other aging action stars and disappeared from the spotlight with his films going straight to video.

It's the human quality of the character that really works here. Like Richard Pryor striking a match and making light of his self-immolation in front of an audience, Van Damme is so brutally honest, he pulls no punches; during an improvised monologue, drawn from many of those interviews, he gives us the ?this stops here? moment, the same type where Rocky gets mad during the 8th round of the bout and is determined to win. But instead of toppling a gang of terrorists or winning an underground MMA competition, Van Damme reinvents himself, and in the end he wins -- when everybody leaving the theatre has a newfound respect for our man JCVD.

As I finish writing this, you Midnight Maniacs are getting ready to line up for Deadgirl. I'm taking the night off. I'll be at home, watching an old VHS copy of Kickboxer.

And by the way, the winning Golden Ticket question? ?In what film does Van Damme play opposite himself?? Hope you enjoyed the film, pal!

Stay tuned for my video interview with JCVD director Mabrouk el Mechri!