Often overlooked when discussing the best sports movies of all time, Inside Moves was released in 1980. The film stars John Savage, David Morse, and Diana Scarwid, is written by Todd Walton, Valerie Curtain, and Barry Levinson, and directed by Richard Donner for ITC Entertainment and Goodmark Productions, Inc.
One reason is that Inside Moves doesn’t resort to the usual sports movie tropes. Indeed, most viewers probably don’t consider it “a sports movie.” For starters, most of Inside Moves’ characters are disabled. In the real world, they’re outsiders. But not at Max’s, the bar they hang out at; they’re insiders and they lean on one another. (Coincidentally, Max’s was also the name of the bar in Invincible (2006).
Cast of “Inside Moves” (photo courtesy Metacritic)
Here’s the gist of the movie’s plot. One of Max’s bartenders, Jerry, played by actor David Morse, possesses immense basketball talent. Still, he requires an operation for his damaged leg, allowing him to take his game beyond the playground to the pros. Jerry’s best friend, Roary, played by actor John Savage, is the film’s backbone. Spoiler: At the beginning of the film, Roary attempts suicide. Roary’s evolution and his friendship with Jerry are just as, if not more, vital to the story as Jerry’s basketball dreams. Amid this drama, Inside Moves tackles pitch-black topics such as suicide and drug addiction, and one of the pivotal characters is a prostitute.
No, Inside Moves isn’t Rudy.
Before it received the big-screen treatment, Inside Moves was a novel. Fittingly, author Todd Walton wrote it at a bar. Not surprisingly, he was playing a lot of basketball at the time. Initially, Walton titled it The Gimp, but his publishers requested something more commercial. Famed producer Robert Evans wanted to make the movie; however, he asked Walton to make some changes to the book before it was published.
Walton declined.
Photo courtesy IMDb
Regardless, Evans wasn’t getting the support he needed from his colleagues to get Inside Moves made. Fortunately, director Richard Donner, who was coming off the mega-success of Superman, came to the rescue. With no movie studios stepping up, Donner raised funds independently.
Eventually, Inside Moves made it to the big screen, actually one screen. According to Donner, Inside Moves was released around the holidays at one theater with little or no promotion. However, it did garner critical reviews. Actress Diana Scarwid, who plays a waitress at Max’s, was nominated for an Academy Award. Savage, perhaps known best for his work in The Deer Hunter, and Morse, then a veteran stage actor but film rookie, were just as worthy of such accolades. Inside Moves is profoundly poignant.
Of course, there are some sports scenes in Inside Moves. Morse, who is 6-4, is very believable as a baller, and ironically, he took up acting after he was cut from his high school basketball team. During filming, Morse was coached by a former UCLA player and assisted by a stunt double.
Worth noting as far as sports movie cred: actor Tony Burton, who plays Apollo Creed’s trainer in Rocky, has a supporting role.
Forty-five years after its release, Inside Moves still “has game.” Check it out.
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Jon Hart is the author of Unfortunately, I was available. Illustrated by Coverkitchen.
Now I want to watch this!!! Great article.