Review of Hopscotch (1980) by Jim D — 29 Aug 2008

This is one of my all time favorite movies. Seldom do I find someone my age or younger who has actually seen it. It is a brilliantly written, well acted script. This is a spy thriller, full of twists, turns, chases, and shoot-outs yet with none of the violence one would normally expect with such fare. At the same time this movie is not boring, or overly silly, just witty and wry. Walter Matthau plays the aging CIA agent, Miles Kendig, put out to pasture aside an unbelievably young Sam Waterston(DA Jack McCoy, Law & Order) who plays Kendig's protege, Joe Cutter, reluctantly sent to deal with him.

I picked up this movie on DVD the moment it was re-released. It's a shame to say, but this kind of movie could not get made today.

I loved this movie when I was a kid, and I still love it. It may not be a classic film for others, but it is classic favorite of mine.