INSIDE MOVES

US, 1980, 113 minutes, Colour.
John Savage, David Morse, Diana Scarwid, Amy Wright, Harold Russell.
Directed by Richard Donner.

Inside Moves is a drama about disabled people and brought back to the screen the actor Harold Russell, the World War II veteran who lost his hand but won an Oscar as best supporting actor in 1946 for The Best Years of Our Lives. The film is set in an 80s American city, has a cross-section of characters who dramatise particular points of view. The cast is led by John Savage. At times it is a wry comedy as well as a serious drama looking at characters who have been dealt harsher hands in life.

This was a rather quiet film for director Richard Donner who, up to this time, had made a number of small films but also The Omen and Superman: The Movie. He was to make the Lethal Weapon series.

1. Entertaining film? Reality, dream? Optimistic Americana?

2. Max's Bar: the American city, the bar itself, streets, apartments? The background of homes, the lake etc.? The transition to the outside world of the city - wealth, basketball etc.? Hospitals? Contribution of the songs, the score?

3. American themes: the dream, the underdog coming to the top? Buddies? The conventions of the buddy film? In a contemporary setting?

4. The impact of Rory at the opening, his intensity, suicide attempt, failure? The fall and the crash? In hospital? The repercussions of the attempt? Audience curiosity about him - people not asking why he attempted suicide?

5. The people at Max's Bar: Max himself, money needs, friendliness, operation? Wings and his metallic hands, Blue, Louie, Stinky, Burt, Jerry? Life in the bar, the enclosed world and its escapism, playing cards etc.? Cripples and dropouts? Fears of the outside world and making their own world - friendship, jokes, self put-down? The feel of the atmosphere? The disabilities and the visual presentation of them, audiences sharing the experience, the devices for playing cards, the bar as home and family? Their making Rory welcome?

6. Rory in his apartment: isolated, lonely? The encounter with Anna and her prostitution, drug addiction? Friendship with Jerry and his lameness? Basketball and Jerry's workout? Anne, the money, going away? Rory's money, the plan about having shares in Max's, getting money for his operation? Jerry's grief, hoping for the operation for healing? The return and Lucius bashing?

7. Jerry in himself, attractive and cheery, Anne as his girlfriend and his supporting her? Relationship with Alvin, crying, the cheering. bashing. his being helped by the people in the bar, especially Rory? The effect of the operation? His playing, success? Alvin's coaching? His not visiting the bar and his disappearance? His being chosen to play? The Christmas celebration? His coming into the bar? Talk with Rory? Playing? The relationship with Louise? Rory telling him off? Louise telling him? His final return? The build-up to the climax with the successful game? Rory's confrontation with Lucius?

8. The portrait of Rory: the house. the party. meeting Jerry. beard, the hurt, telling off? The reason for his wanting to kill himself? The dog? His life at the bar? Relationships with people? The money for the operation? Anne? Relationship with Louise - and his -reaction to her relationship with Jerry? The dream theme? The final confrontation with Lucius?

9. Louise as fitting into the atmosphere of the bar? Her work? Pleasantness? The letter? The kiss? Love for Rory? The relationship with Jerry? The confrontation? The end?

10. Anne as the wandering waif? Drugs, sponging on people, her pitiful routine? Her going off? Addict, whore? Her returning and being discovered? Exploiting people? The end and her not succeeding?

11. Max and his bar? iris personality? Crisis? The attack? The possibility of closing? The assistance from his friends? A father-figure?

12. The presentation of the regulars: Wings with his hooks for hands, blind Stinky, and Blue Lewis in his wheelchair? Their cheerfulness? Disabled, problems, memories, joking, friendship. compensations?

13. Alvin and his skill, sport, clashes with Rory, with Jerry? Money, help, training?

14. The world of Lucius and the thugs? Violence? The attack? Anne? The final confrontation and Rory's achievement on behalf of the group?

15. American themes and dreams: of mice and men? Friendship. love, achievement, fighting back? The depression of self-centredness? Hope and spirit?