Leading man Daniel Craig apparently made Flashbacks of a Fool (he was also one of the executive producers) in between stints as James Bond, and you can see why he was attracted to it; Joe Scott, the character he portrays in this film, could hardly be less like the suave, ever-resourceful 007. Ensconced in a fab, oceanfront Malibu crib, Joe is a movie star on the skids. Hooked on coke and drink, engaging in group gropes with dumb Hollywood bimbos, he???s sunk so low that his sassy assistant (Eve) calls him "a disgrace to white folks," and even his agent is sick of him, which is somewhat akin to a parasite dissing its host (it???s a measure of writer-director Baillie Walsh???s script???s lack of depth that we never really see what made Joe so great in the first place, or so bad now). When a call comes that a childhood friend has died, Joe decides to return to his native England for the funeral, whereupon an extended flashback kicks in. Young Joe (Harry Eden), it seems, was as randy and hopelessly na??ve as a lot of teenage boys. Though he had the hots for the sexiest young thang in town (a coastal village that???s as lovely in its way as the California setting, both of them handsomely photographed by cinematographer John Mathieson; the locations, in fact, are probably the most attractive element of the film), he also wasn???t immune to the advances of Evelyn (Jodhi May), the older married woman who lives next door. And when a tragedy involving Evelyn???s daughter struck while she and Joe were in flagrante, Joe handled it by leaving town, never to return--until now, that is. --Sam Graham

Firstly I must say that I adored this film when seeing it in the cinema.

I found it so evocative of time and place and I really felt transported by many of the scenes, back into the 70s.

I enjoyed the performances immensely. Jodhi May is, as always, sublime. I also loved all the little domestic moments around the kitchen tables in the Beach Houses' titular Flashbacks. Daniel Craig is such a versatile actor, his portrayal of a faded star here, who has everything materially and nothing spiritually is spot-on, he is rather underused in this film, unfortunately.

I came away from the cinema feeling different which is always a good thing in my book. I was truly entranced by the sensuality - as in, appealing to my senses - of the film and at times it left me feeling uneasy, but in a good and challenging way. How other reviewers can say that 'nothing happened' is beyond me - do these people have no soul?!

So. Why the 3* and not 5*, you may be wondering? This is more of a reflection of my thoughts on the DVD itself. Having seen the film, I was so looking forward to lots of cast interviews, 'making of' documentaries, interviews with the director etc. The locations were so stunning, I'd love to have found out more about how the whole piece was put together.

The DVD producers in their wisdom saw fit just to include a handful of deleted scenes and nothing more...

Missed opportunity in my opinion.

If however, you haven't seen the film at all, then do buy the DVD for that reason alone. It's a real treat for the eyes and ears. If, like me, you grew up in the 70s, you'll enjoy a sensual trip down memory lane.

I didn't know what to expect from this film, I'd seen a clip about the making of the film on TV. I became totally absorbed into it. The filming is excellent along with great performances, Harry Eden is brilliant. I can see why people didn't like it......they wanted Daniel Craig in the whole film. The balance of the past scenes and the modern day are exactly right. It really made me think back when I was a teenager and how you are with the friends you've made. Hormones raging and fights with friends were what happened when you're young and foolish. The soundtrack is awesome and makes you appreciate the tunes of the 70's.

I thought Daniel craig was great in the parts he's in....., totally opposite to a Bond and anything else I've seen him in. Watch it and make your own mind up, I don't care what people say about it........., film of 2008 for me too like another reviewer.

I was disappointed by this film. I felt the acting was wooden (especially during the 'flashback' scenes).
It seemed to combine a lot of British 'coming of age film' cliches (lads hanging around the fairground, long summers trying to entertain themselves, fantasies about girls) and reminded me of films such as Stardust.
It supplied nothing new.
The only saving grace were the opening credit scenes...

Sometimes you see a movie and it makes an instant connection with your own life - you know immediately that you've watched something that you are going to remember for a long long time. Flashbacks of a Fool was for me just such a movie. It's a beautifully composed and poignant story about a choice made in a moment and the consequences for a lifetime.

Daniel Craig carefully resists an easy opportunity to cash-in on his success between Bond movies and just push out a clich??d action flick. Instead he delivers an understated but sensitive performance as a washed-up actor with an un-reconciled past, leaving space for an excellent supporting cast. Harry Eden playing the adolescent Daniel Craig character is exceptional.

There are some unanswered questions in the story but these actually serve to make it a better film. The cinematography and editing are outstanding - watch the version of the beach scene, the turning point in the movie, which was kept in the final edit compared with the deleted scene on the DVD. It's a stunning example of why less is more with movie editing. The 70s music and the period had an extra special resonance for a 40-something like me.

Overall a superb movie and one I can highly recommend.

Daniel Craig plays against type in this oddly charming film set mainly in a 1970's English beach community - which examines the lead character's flawed current existence and the typically teenage roller-coaster ride that brought him there. However, whilst Craig is convincing, the stand-out performances have to be from the delightful Harry Eden (playing Craig's Joe Scott as a teenager) and the high quality ensemble cast surrounding him (Olivia Williams, Annabel Linder and Max Deacon). The much remarked about 'Sound-track' doesn't stand out as much as say 'C.R.A.Z.Y.' but the '70's era is marvelously portrayed. Quirky, original and enticing - the film made me want to find the book (if it exists). Well recommended Sunday viewing which deserved more positive attention than the 'critics' gave it at Cinema.