Review of The Bouncer

I am overjoyed to see that one of my childhood heroes has so lovingly to a genre which expands his histrionic capabilities. When you hear of JCVD, you do not expect a Noir. I never thought that he could do this. This european movie, probably Belgian/french, his native languages, is dark, gritty, brooding and tense. I didn't understand the ?french parts interspersed between the english parts. But I could follow the flow. It would have been lovely to understand the nuances of the language though. The bouncer/Lukas, is a nightclub bouncer , now in dire straits. He needs to keep up his daughter's education and lookin after properly as his wife isn't alive any more. His phone has only one number in list- his daughter's. Unfortunately he is forced to take up a bouncer's job, under a boss who prints counterfeit currency. The police agents blackmail him to be a snitch. Finally his mission succeeded but the ending is open ended. I presume to believe that he is alive. There are lots of close ups to show the lines of experience in JCVD's face. Deep furrows telling untold stories of pain, suffering but also of fights. Weary eyes carrying on for the one love of his life-his daughter, a sweet kid, she understands and respects her father for the sacrifices he made and the effort he is giving for her. And her thoughts keep JC going through this umrewarding life. The machinations of the agents force him to hoodwink his boss, who trusts him. The action sequences are few but always as per the requirement of the screenplay. Less dialogues. JCVD talks very less. Emotive eyes and actions. The violence is real life. No blockbuster sound and unbelievable effects. A grey and bluish tone throughout which matches the storyline, which is not original but executed with panache. We have all gone or going through these emotions at the wrong end of our ages, but we still have to soldier on. We feel the same pain in his eyes. It can happen to us. May be not the actions, but in other ways. The mode is same. A truly noir gem.