Hopscotch

I acquired this Criterion DVD from Peter Thompson, the owner and operator of Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa. I usually make several weekly pilgrimages to his store - you never know what film treasures you will discover. I had never heard of Hopscotch before, a film from 1980 starring Walter Matthau. When I think about Walter Matthau, I think of The Odd Couple and then I think of Grumpy Old Men. Then maybe a basset hound. I have never really thought of him as a leading man. Hopscotch has delightfully changed my view of the actor. He plays Kendig, an aging cold-war CIA agent who has been demoted from field work, interacting with his KGB counterpart, to doing paperwork at a desk. Ned Beatty plays his short, over zealous, petty boss who is the one responsible for Kendig's abrupt change in job roles. Kendig doesn't dig it and promptly goes AWOL. Let the fun begin. Kendig has a romance going with a woman from Vienna, played by Glenda Jackson, who sports a short hairdo like she belongs from the 60s. In fact, the whole film has a 60s vibe to it, rather than that of 1980. I loved it - it took me back to a different time. This was pure fun. Catch it on the Criterion Channel or go rent it from Peter at Movies N Stuff here in Ottawa.