As a little birthday present to myself, I purchased the DVD version of one of my all-time favorite movies, Inside Moves (1980, Lionsgate). Okay, I know what you're probably thinking: You've never heard of it. Well, that's unfortunate because it's way better than most blockbusters out there. Directed by Richard Donner and previously only available in VHS format, which is how I came to know and love it, Inside Moves caught my attention priamrily due to the fact that it stars John Savage, one of the most tragically underrated actors ever. Savage plays Roary, a man who becomes crippled following a suicide attempt thwarted by an "f-in' Pontiac." After spending some time in a hospital, the down-and-out Oakland, Calif., resident stumbles into Max's, a seedy dive patronized by an eclectic group of individuals with various disabilities and personal issues. Roary quickly forges a friendship with bartender Jerry (David Morse), a wannabe basketball star who is impeded by a serious leg injury-- and Ann (Amy Wright), his druggie prostitute girlfriend. Roary also takes a liking to Louise (Diana Scarwid, who was nominated for an Academy Award for this role), a pretty, sweet waitress. (The Roary-Louise relationship is my favorite aspect of the film. You'll just have to watch it to see what happens.) The movie is based on the rather good 1978 novel by Todd Walton. In terms of plot, the book and the movie are quite different. For example, in the book Roary is a disabled Vietnam veteran. For some reason, Donner felt that this storyline would not go over well with audiences, since the film was released only five years after the end of the war. I find this ironic, considering the fact that Savage gave a haunting portrayal of a paralyzed 'Nam vet in 1978's The Deer Hunter*, which ended up winning the Best Picture Oscar. Anyway, everyone needs to watch Inside Moves-- ASAP!
*I'm going to review this film later this month.
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