Inside Moves

One of director Richard Donner's (Superman) lesser films, 1980's Inside Moves is a well-intended but also predictable adaptation of Todd Walton's bestselling novel, starring John Savage as Roary, a young man whose failed suicide attempt has left him physically handicapped. Roary begins to spend much of his time at a bar populated with an unusually large number of disabled denizens who appear to be neither bitter nor confined by their various disabilities; indeed, much of their conversation involves self-deprecating humor that slowly brings Roary out of his unhappiness. An accompanying subplot revolves around the bartender (David Morse), who undergoes an operation to repair an injured knee that will allow him to pursue a basketball career. As a heart-on-its-sleeve feel-good flick, Inside Moves is often too sticky and narratively clumsy to generate genuine emotional impact, and Savage's central performance is too weak to provide a strong foundation. But Oscar nominee Diana Scarwid is sturdy as the barmaid who falls in love with Roary, while real-life double amputee Harold Russell (who won an Oscar for his role in The Best Years of Our Lives) shines as a gregarious bar regular (when asked by Roary if he could use a hand, Russell holds up his prosthetic hooks and exclaims that he could use two hands). DVD extras include audio commentary by Donner and filmmaker Brian Helgeland, a “making-of” featurette, interviews (with Donner, Walton, and screenwriter Barry Levinson), and more. A strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)