A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Belgian martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme on the eve of the release of JVCD, the brilliantly self-aware movie about his turbulent life thus far. Van Damme has a rather particular way of expressing his unique brand of wisdom -- of waxing philosophical about his ongoing quest for an absolute truth, of recounting his battles against the demons that haunt our world. But certain interviews can’t be adequately conveyed by mere transcription.

The Muscles from Brussels is back with a quirky new film, JCVD, that deconstructs his chaotic, hard-partying persona. Is this Jean-Claude Van Damme’s public mea culpa, or is the Universal Soldier screwing with his fans? Van Damme phones in from Thailand to elaborate on his ongoing quest for the truth, discuss the subtleties of his meta biographical flick, and shoot the breeze in remarkably good Spanish. (And also, check out our video homage with audio clips from the conversation.)

The other day, New York's "Daily Intelligencer" asked, "Does 2008's Best Movie Star Van Damme?" Well no, no it doesn't, although the man who played "Gay Karate Man" in 1984's seminal film Monaco Forever does seem to be pulling out all the acting chop stops in J.C.V.D. After the jump, five histrionic clowns who somehow managed to pull off their best Jean-Claude Van Damns.