Life After Flash ( 2017) Documentary

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Star – Sam L Jones My Rating **** Genre – Documentary Run Time – 1 hr 34 Minutes. Certificate – 12a Country – U.K Awards – Wins & Nominations = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I came across a free film app called PlexTV. I had been through the best free movies on Rakuten in the summer and started on Plex in the autumn. Its selection isn’t the best but one or two newer films there I wanted to see and some really good older films that have already been on normal TV you can catch up on. The documentary and horror sections are the best bits and there I discovered Life After Flash, not only about the making of the film Flash Gordon but the life of lead actor Sam L Jones , who has had an up and down career since to say the least, mostly down. British writer & Director Lisa Downs thought the career of star of that iconic 80s movie would make a great documentary and contacted him through Skype to see if he would do it. He had just enjoyed a mini revival in his career after his tongue-in-cheek appearance in the comedy Ted in 2013, two decades of TV and straight-to-video stuff previous to that meaning he had taken other jobs to supplement his career in the movies, including, rather ironically, doing close protection work for the rich and famous, one or two of his clients recognizing the bloke from the Flash Gordon movie in the driver’s seat. When he got the role in Flash Gordon he was an unknown actor, just two movie credits previously, the American blonde beefcake that directors Mike Hodges & Lorenzo Semple needed for their film as he was cheap and the perfect blank canvass to turn into Flash Gordon, the innocent savior of the universe, of course. Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon Melody Anderson as Dale Arden Max von Sydow as The Emperor Ming Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov Ornella Muti as Princess Aura Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan Peter Wyngarde as Klytus Mariangela Melato as Kala John Osborne as Arborian Priest Richard O'Brien as Fico As a kid I grew up with the old black & white Flash Gordon TV series and so thought I would give this film a go and really enjoyed it. It’s perfect at documenting that moment when an actor is in the cringe zone where they just can’t let go of their fleeting fame and finally put the candle out with their two wet fingers. After a bit of background on Sam’s upbringing and his rise from obscurity in the military to play Flash we have plenty of onset footage of the rather unique comic book movie, and the cast & crew very keen to be in this documentary, the campest Sci-Fi film ever made. There were some big names in it, Max Von Sydow and Timothy Dalton, and the flamboyant Peter Wyngarde, Brian Blessed bellowing his way through to steal every scene. For Sam Jones it’s an important documentary, these days one of many of those rather sad washed up TV & Film stars who do those comic con events across the country, selling signed photos and DVDs to their adoring fans, often as equally sad. Sam runs his stall like a military operation, his poor underlings scolded if the Flash Gordon back drop poster isn’t straight or the bucks are down. He needs those dollars. He made that mistake many actors do when they play an iconic role in a popular movie, choosing to typecast thereafter to stay in the comfort zone, action hero his thing. He has done 80 film & TV roles since Flash and you have probably heard of very few of them. His role in Ted was basically Hollywood taking the pi** of that type of actor. But for all his arrogance and stomping off film sets and that narcissism not to let go of being in the movies and in the public eye he seems a nice guy underneath, his many wives and kids all too keen to big him up as a father and friend. He found religion to get over his career falling off a cliff and a man with a real work ethic for his family, not too proud to try new jobs that are hardly glamorous. Being a marine before the movies held him in good stead. It’s just a nice little documentary on quite literally a flash in the pan actor who was here today and gone tomorrow, his looks and biceps easily outstripping his acting talent and longevity in Hollywood. It must be tough on the ego when the phone stops ringing and you have to join the normal people again but many turn to drink and drugs and some don’t make it. He got through that and this film his sweet tribute. Check this film out if you can catch it somewhere as it’s a gentle look at what life is like when an actor hangs on to his or her fame, as fame is all there is for them in life, what good looks and buff bodies deserve, I guess. ===RATINGS=== Imdb.com 6.6 /10.0 (votes) Rottentomatos.com –70% critic’s approval Metacritic.com – 67% critic’s approval ===Trailer===