My Turn as a Film Critic

This past weekend, in order to dodge the barrage of endlessly repetitive political commercials, Bill and I rented a movie.  It’s called Thelma, and it’s nothing at all like that much earlier film Thelma and Louise.  In this one, the only actual car chase takes place on a three-wheeled, two passenger cart. 

Wait, let me guess.  You haven’t even heard of Thelma?  I’m not surprised.  I had wanted to see the movie in a theater, but it came and went in the blink of an eye, and I never got a chance.  It was buried under a rash of summertime dystopian superhero nonsense—in other words movies filled with not much dialogue but loaded with ear-splitting rounds of automatic gunfire.  

There’s some gunfire in Thelma, too—five shots total from an antique revolver! 

So why did the movie come and go in such a hurry?  For one thing, it’s a movie about an old lady—a ninety-four year old lady—actually played by a ninety-four year old actress, June Squibb, in her first-ever starring role.  Wait, you’ve never heard of June Squibb?  Turns out she’s been an actress for a very long time.  Her first appearance on Broadway was in the original stage production of Gypsy in 1959!

If you look at her list of credits, you’ll see she’s been in lots of movies over the years—movies you’ve probably seen—but you don’t remember her, right?  That’s because she was always in the background.  Kathy Bates’s character in the new Matlock series, is right. Older women are invisible—most especially to Hollywood screenwriters.

But back to Thelma.  The story is about an old woman who is scammed out of $10,000 by a kid masquerading as her grandson and claiming he needs the money to get out of jail.  Thelma, with the help of her tech-savvy grandson, sets out to get her money back no matter what!  (By the way, these kinds of grandson scams happen.  Don’t fall for one of them without knowing for sure your grandson IS involved!)

From my point of view, it didn’t hurt that the grandson was a tall, lanky, tech-savvy kid with red hair and a short red beard.  All of that reminded me of my grandson, Colt, who during the Den of Iniquity ordeal by podcasts, saved me from missing an interview by helping me locate the required search engine, Chrome, on my computer.  I was looking for it in the C’s form Chrome when I should have been looking in the G’s for Google Chrome.  Who knew?

The movie’s pacing and especially the soundtrack are on the money, and the characters are believable.  Thelma walks like an old lady because she is an old lady. The film acknowledges the fact that, at some point, when you fall you really can’t get up—without something or someone to help you.  

The sound-tract captures the absolute silence left in a home when a beloved spouse is no longer present as well as the reality that, for many people, the first sound they hear each day, is the beep in their ears when they turn on their hearing aids.  But most of all, the story shows the incredible value of those longterm friendships, ones that come complete with a lifetime’s worth of precious memories.

One scene that really tickled me, was the one that featured Thelma’s first hair-raising test-drive of that three-wheeled cart. Years ago, my best friend’s widowed mother, coincidentally also named Thelma, moved from Arizona to Florida to live with her daughter.  On her first trip to a grocery store, Thelma decided to take a ride on one of the available carts. She was able to start it just fine, but stopping was another issue entirely.  She ended up taking out an entire end-cap of canned goods, and I believe she was permanently banned from using carts from that moment on.

But what I liked most about the movie was the enduring connections between Thelma and the people around her, most especially the one between her and her grandson.  That one really spoke to me, and I have an idea it’ll speak to many of my readers as well. 

39 thoughts on “My Turn as a Film Critic

  1. Thank you for that great review of a movie I may have just passed by when looking for something. I’ll have to take your word on the grandson connection as my wife and I never had children. But, I can attest to the silence in a home when one partner is no longer there. It’s been a bit over two years since she passed and the silence is still there. I sort of have begun to embrace it though, getting some good thinking done. But the tinnitus becomes so much louder. Thank you again for the nod to this movie, I’ll definitely give it a look see. And again also, thank you for your books which do entertain my brain so well.

  2. I also saw that movie in the theatre after watching the actress being interviewed on Sunday Morning, I loved it so glad you were able to see it. It was only in our theatre a couple of weeks so many did not see it, I always love your books and characters, keep it up. I am a member of PEO which I know you are a fan. I always mention your name and books at our meetings when a new book comes out.

  3. The movie sounds like something our little movie house would show and may have while I was on a trip. The theme hits home as my mother-in-law was duped by this scam and lost a lot more than $10.00. I think my movie buddy and I would like it. The movie house does reshow films and takes suggestions. I’ll contact them. Thank you for the recommendation.

  4. Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a movie worth watching. In these days when there are 100’s of channels and steaming services to peruse, it amazes me there is little worth seeing. I’m loving Matlock. The back story is especially intriguing.

  5. Thanks, I am always looking for new movies to add to my collection of DVD’s. [267 presently] and this one I can certainly relate to. I am 86 and when I was still answering my phone to all callers this scam was tried. However, I immediately called my grandson and, of course, it was not him.

    Blessing to you and Bill

  6. I did see the movie in the theater. I really loved it. A rare gem, seldom seen in theaters anymore. And, I was so impressed by the 94 year old actress. She was great! I love your review.

  7. Thelma the movie sounds great. I plan to look for it.
    As you mentioned about the absolute silence : I know it well. A house can be just a big echoey (sp?) box. ?

  8. My BFF and I saw that movie in the theater, we both loved it! We go to matinees on Mondays with senior pricing. 🙂

  9. I’ll have to check and see if/where I can rent Thelma. When our oldest grandson was in high school we got two of those calls–the “supposed” grandson spoke to me as Grandma, which I’m not to my grandchildren, so I knew it was a scam. I wonder if that scam is still going around.

    Now that the political ads are over, it is back to the medical ads!!

  10. June Squibb played MeeMaw on The Big Bang Theory, and also nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Nebraska! Love her, but hadn’t heard about Thelma. Can’t wait to watch it.

  11. LOVED this movie. I agree the relationship between Thelma and her grandson was wonderful. I have grown grandchildren and we treasure each other. If one does not have a grandchild, there are lots of children around who would love a relationship with an older adult. Reach out-children make each day a little brighter!

  12. Oh my gosh. I just watched the trailor of Thelma on YouTube. It looks hilarious. I had never even heard of this little gem. I’m going to have to check out where I can rent it.
    Both my husband and I finished DOI and loved it. Another great Beau story. Thank you!
    Last week I mentioned we could not read Girls Night Out as we don’t have a Kindle. Shortly after that, a very sweet friend shared it with us so we were able to read that also. We enjoyed it tremendously. Twinkle is a fun character. Definitely need to look in to a Kindle or something similar soon as many books seem to be going that direction.

  13. We LOVED LOVED LOVED that movie! The problem solving and mutual aid was an inspiration to us as we deal with our own gradual, sometimes sudden, declines. We were cheering for her all the way!

  14. We saw it at our retirement center auditorium. Big crowd loved it. I wouldn’t even mind seeing it a second time.

  15. I watched this movie some time ago when it first came out and LOL all the way thru it. Especially as last year my cc went on a trip without me. Started I believe when a pizza place that I love to frequent when my “kids (60s, grands 31-44 and greats 2to14) took my cc info over a busy phone line (theirs) and I could hear lots of conversations going on in the background. I had to repeat my cc info twice and then he read it back to me loudly over people talking behind him. I’m savvy enough to have “notifications” by text sent to me of any cc charges. It was late and I had company to I didn’t see the 6 charges made during the night until the next day and called my cc people. They cancelled my card right then and sent me a new one (you get it regular mail within 5 days). And the next day I got a notice in the mail for my change of address. I Googled it and found that I was living in a desert area in CA……no house just a ratty mailbox by a dirt road. So then I called and was advised to call the police who came and gave me an “incident” number!! Two weeks later a very nice young FBI gentleman came to “close” the report. They had arrested 8 people in a scam ring in my town!!!! There was no mention on the news but it sure made me very very careful with my mail, my cc and everything with my finances and home/property. At 86 I sold my car and took my first ride in Costco motorized cart and even after driving a golf cart for years – well it sure scared me. I loved this movie and highly recomend it to ALL AGES! My Great Grandson asked me if I wanted to download an app to find his location like his parents can?? Life sure has changed!

  16. Here I am at 92 really appreciating your review of a movie abut a 94 year old woman,. Never thought i’d see the day! Bob Glass

  17. We are definitely not the target audience for movies. I can’t remember the last time I saw a film in a theater! I don’t think most people my age (73) are willing to pay what it costs to go see a movie. (And of course I absolutely cannot watch without popcorn and a drink which ends of costing me another $20!)

    Last fall I went to visit a dear friend who moved from Everett to Atlanta, Ga. to be with her daughter and grandchildren. Carol is 88 and has numerous health issues. We went to the grocery and all the three wheeled carts were in the store and she couldn’t make it that far so I foolishly said I go get one and bring it out to her. Those suckers are not for the feint of heart. I thought for certain I’d kill someone trying to mauver it. God bless those old souls that can safely drive them.

  18. I googled June and immediately recognized her. A trailer for another of her films, Table 19 came up and that looks like an enjoyable story. now I have 2 new ones to look for. Thanks!

  19. I googled June and immediately recognized her. A trailer for another of her films, Table 19 came up and that looks like an enjoyable story. now I have 2 new ones to look for. Thanks!

  20. I am going to look for that movie! I also just watched a move! an excellent movie on Prime. “Mrs. Palfrey At The Claremont”! It’s a story. No action, or guns. Just a wonderful story!

  21. How coincidental-I just finished a book called Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge about just that type of scam call! It was amazing!

  22. I found “Thelma” on Prime. It’s available for $4.99 on that streaming service. So, I’m going to use that as an excuse to mention a program on PBS that I just found and started to watch. It’s called The Marlow Murder Club. The main character is Judith Potts, a retired septuagenarian who writes crosswords. Some might also enjoy tuning in.

  23. I love this story today! I want to look up this movie and watch with my husband…, it sounds like such a good movie! Thanks for sharing Judy

  24. Last week a dear sweet little old lady friend of mine was almost scammed of $42,000.00 . She was on her computer when the screen went black and a voice told her she was about to be arrested if she didn’t follow directions. She was told her computer is full of child pornography and the law would soon be at her door. The voice offered to help her clear this up. Gave her specific directions to go to her bank and withdraw money. They knew her bank and so much information about her. She was terrified that her name would be smeared. She actually went to her bank to withdraw the money, but the teller would not do it. The voice told her to go to another branch. Even gave her the address and directions on getting there. The voice stayed on the phone with her. Luckily the teller at the next branch suspected what was going on and called the police. The police came to her home and it was straightened out. The police told my friend that they get at least 100 calls a week for this same scam. YIKES! People, beware of unknown phone callers or computer voices.

    • Janice, I think the problem is some of us grew up when a phone call was usually from family member and important. A call from an unknown person while on the computer is suspect. No police would be calling her saying she was about to be arrested and she had to withdraw money. Thank goodness an alert person at the bank suspected what was going on and called the police. Anyone asking for money must be ignored.

  25. Hello again from Fuller Brush- Ville. Thanks for the movie update on June Squibb. She is truly a great actor. I loved her in the movie Table 19 and I recommend it for your next movie night. All the best from Canada. Alex Leonard. p.s. I have ordered Thelma.

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