Inside Moves

Directed by Richard Donner, Inside Moves follows John Savage’s Roary as he survives a suicide attempt and eventually forms friendships with several troubled individuals within a local bar. Filmmaker Donner, working from Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson’s screenplay, does a terrific job of initially luring the viewer into the deliberately-paced proceedings, as Inside Moves kicks off with a striking opening sequence, revolving around Roary’s suicide attempt, that immediately establishes an irresistibly gritty, lived-in atmosphere – with the watchable vibe certainly heightened (and then some) by the terrific work of Savage and his various costars. (David Morse, cast as a bartender and aspiring basketball player, turns in a fantastic performance that remains a continuing highlight within the proceedings.) It’s clear, then, that Inside Moves‘ subsequent emphasis on the protagonists’ rather aimless exploits generally prevents it from becoming the engrossing, captivating endeavor one might’ve anticipated, with the movie’s episodic structure, coupled with Donner’s seriously low-key approach, paving the way for a rather hit-and-miss narrative that is, at times, more effective as an actors’ showcase than as a fully-realized drama – which ultimately does, by the time the compelling yet far-from-emotionally-resonant finale rolls around, cement the film’s place as a decent-enough piece of work that feels like it should be much better (and more affecting).

**1/2 out of ****