When Mama WWTW and Movie Mom both insist I watch a movie … well, then what choice do I have?
Both said “Inside Moves,” the 1980 drama starring John Savage, stands as one of the actor’s best performances.
Never argue with Mom.
The film, directed by Richard Donner of “Superman” fame, follows a suicidal man who finds redemption within the walls of a neighborhood watering hole.
Sounds trite, and the first half hour is just that. Give it time. The film’s unusual pacing gives way to a poignant meditation on love and friendship.
Roary (Savage) plunges to what should be a horrible death in the film’s gripping opener. Dumb luck – a tree and a parked car – break his fall just enough for him to survive.
Now, he’s left to hobble around with all his old problems – which we aren’t privvy to – plus his new handicap.
He shuffles into a bar one day and his life takes on a new purpose. Seems everyone inside has one physical malady or another, from Jerry the barkeep with the bum leg (David Morse) to the poker buddies with a hodge-podge of ailments.
Roary is just one of the gang here, and he begins to fit in better than he ever could have hoped.
He’s quickly drawn into Jerry’s personal drama. Seems Jerry once had a promising basketball career, but the leg injury may keep him permanently off the court. Now, he spends his time trying to romance a hooker with a sob story for every occasion.
Jerry gets a second chance when a leg operation lets him resume his playing career, but by then Roary has started his own comeback saga. Their friendship takes on a new, and sometimes painful, dynamic.
Savage isn’t the most expressive actor on the scene, then or now, but his quiet dignity lends Roary a quality few other actors could evoke. Watching him maneuver around the bar is a marvel to behold. His physical limitations are exact and exasperating, but as Roary’s life takes on new dimensions so, too, do his physical abilities.
Add a beautiful waitress (Diana Scarwid in an Oscar-nominated role) who sees something beautiful in Roary, and you have a complicated human drama told with surprising restraint by Donner.
“Inside Moves” strikes a few false notes – the final sequence is silly and the early poker games at the bar feel rushed – but Savage’s presence holds this precious little film together.
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Donner had a major bout of “Liberalitis” at one time, where he contrived to put some kind of left wing “sucker punch” into many of his movies. Goonies, Lethal Weapon, Maverick, Conspiracy Theory, even “Assassins” with Stalone have some sucker punch scene which caused me to stop going to his movies. In fact, Maverick was the first movie I ever walked out of in the middle due to heavy gratuitous Christian bashing.
So, does this movie have his signature lefty advert, or not?
I’m so happy that you saw this little gem. It is a special pleasure to see Harold Russell (double Oscar winner for “The Best Years of Their Lives”) back on screen. I also like exactly what you pointed out — that it has more than the predictable playing out of Roary’s finding a home and a meaningful life.
K – nothing jumped out at me … and this was fairly early in Donner’s career.
Nell – thanks for recommending it. Don’t know how it slipped by for so long.