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Immediately following his blockbuster hits The Omen and Superman: The Movie, director Richard
Donner stepped down to much smaller-scale filmmaking with 1980's Inside Moves, an audience-pleasing
drama with an interesting cast.
The book by Todd Walton concerns a group of neighborhood men who frequent Max's, a bar near a hospital. All
have a serious disability and have formed an impromptu social unit. Into their number comes Roary, who was
seriously wounded in Vietnam and has difficulty walking. Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson's screenplay
dropped the wounded vet aspect, making Roary (John Savage of The Deer Hunter and Hair) into
more of a mystery: in the film's first scene he strides happily into an office building, climbs to the
tenth floor and jumps out an open window. Although he miraculously survives, Roary remains a question mark
throughout most of the film. Partly rehabilitated, he joins the group at Max's and befriends Jerry, a
personable young bartender with a bum knee (David Morse, in his first role). Jerry is depressed because he
was once an excellent basketball player, and his injury prevents him from playing professionally.
Much of the movie is an affectionate character study of the little community. Max's personable, funny
regulars are the wheelchair-bound Blue Lewis (Bill Henderson), the blind Stinky (Robert Altman regular Bert
Remsen) and the handless Wings. Wings is played by Harold Russell, the disabled actor who won two Academy
Awards 34 years earlier for The Best Years of Our Lives; he reportedly returned to acting only after
director Donner agreed to change his character's name, which originally was, "Hooks".
Some of the relationships become complicated. Jerry's been spending the money he needs for his knee
operation on his girlfriend Anne (Amy Wright of The Accidental Tourist), a prostitute and heroin
addict. Jerry tries unsuccessfully to shield Anne from her violent pimp, Lucius (Tony Burton). Meanwhile,
after Max suffers a heart attack, Roary uses his savings to buy a part interest in the bar, that he shares
with Jerry. Business picks up when the bar attracts a wider range of customers. The new barmaid Louise
(Diana Scarwid) forms a crush on Roary, but he's too shy to pursue the relationship. Louise is honest
enough to admit that she's uncomfortable with Roary's disability.
Known as a master of fantasy and horror, Donner returns to his roots in dramatic television to stretch his
profile as a director. His scenes are relaxed and character-driven. Inside Moves won the approval of
disabled viewers, who have remarked that it presents people with handicaps as no different than anyone
else. The rowdies at Max's display their share of odd behavior and petty resentments. They're associated by
their infirmities, but refuse to be defined by them.
Of Inside Moves' cast of young actors only John Savage was firmly established. Excellent editing
convinces us that David Morse is a fine basketball player, while Amy Wright is almost painfully effective
as the alternately helpless and abusive Anne. Diana Scarwid was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. But
the film's popularity can be chalked up to its major sports subplot. Jerry and Roary take in a night of
basketball, after which Jerry challenges pro player Alvin Martin (Harold Sylvester) to a one-on-one game.
To Roary's surprise, Jerry does very well, even with his bad leg. Alvin later loans Jerry the money needed
for a knee operation with a qualified sports specialist, and works with him during his recovery period.
Jerry is soon picked up by a local team and scouted for the majors.
To director Donner's credit, this "sports miracle" development doesn't come off as ridiculous. Issues of
friendship and loyalty arise when Jerry abandons his old friends at Max's -- and begins to date Louise.
That's when we're reminded that Roary had serious emotional problems of his own, that might return with
disastrous consequences.
Inside Moves ends on a positive note, with reservations. Richard Donner had been removed from
Superman II. That fantasy ends with a sequence in which Clark Kent takes petty revenge on a bar
bully, an ethical lapse unworthy of the noble superhero. Inside Moves finishes with a similarly act
of retribution against the film's villain, a cheap commercial ploy to give audiences a "feel good" finale.
After two hours of emotional honesty, this ending now seems equally false and out of place.
Lionsgate's DVD of Inside Moves is an enhanced transfer that's unusually grainy and soft for a DVD
transfer. Color and contrast are good, however, and several worthwhile extras are present. Director Richard
Donner shares his commentary track with Brian Helgeland, the screenwriter of L.A. Confidential and
Mystic River. From the Inside Out is a thorough making-of featurette with considerable input
from Donner and original author Todd Walton. An image gallery presents Donner's copy of the shooting
script, including his margin notes.
For more information about Inside Moves, visit Lionsgate.
To order Inside Movies, go to
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by Glenn Erickson
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