THELMA
US, 2024, 98 minutes, Colour.
June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell.
Directed by Joshua Marston.
Lyricist Johnny Mercer once wrote “you’re either too young or too old…”. Here is a tale about a 94 year-old, a lot of it tongue-in-cheek, a lot of it quite hopeful, the proof that she is not too old.
She is a grandmother, Thelma, played by 94-year-old actress, June Squibb, a veteran character actress here getting a starring role. Her loving husband has died, she is living alone, but happily reliant at times on her grandson, Daniel (Fred Hechinger), genial, hert confidante, helping her when she is busy on her computer. They watch television and Thelma has a soft spot for Tom Cruise doing his own stunts in the Mission Impossible films.
Daniel is 24, thinks that he is not good at anything much, has a fussy overprotective mother, Parker Posey, and a demanding father (Clark Gregg) who is rigid in his interpretation of obligations.
However, the core of the story is one that will resonate with older audiences (and younger audiences who have been victims), the scam. Thelma receives a phone call, a voice impersonating Daniel, a plea for ransom money, her going to the bank, withdrawing it, posting it – and then the realisation of the scam.
Thelma is both humiliated and annoyed, and decides to take the matter in hand, relying on an old friend, Ben (Richard Roundtree, merely 80, Shaft himself over 50 years earlier, his last feature film). They form a very genial screen couple, June Squibb doing her own stunts – though they are mainly on a scooter with Ben, racing through the streets of LA. She also borrows a gun from another elderly housebound friend!
The enjoyment of the film is watching June Squibb, the actress enjoying herself in this role, entering into it wholeheartedly. Daniel is a sympathetic character and we like Ben. Not so much the fusy parents, very irritating!
And there is a cameo from Malcolm McDowell (only 82) as the villain.
What might be called an enjoyable action romp and an affirmation of grey power!
- Thelma, June Squibb, aged 94, her screen presence and performance?
- Themes of age and ageing, transcending age limits? Her fondness of looking at Tom Cruise and his stunts, Mission Impossible?
- Alma, her story, background of her long marriage, sadness at the death of her husband, living alone, managing, her daily routines? Her bond with her grandson, his care for her, conversations, driving? Her daughter fussing, stripped, her son-in-law and his ideas and mouthing them?
- The importance of Thelma working on the computer, older audiences identifying with her, the help from Daniel? The later use of the skills?
- The phone call, the impersonation of her grandson, the ransom, the phone connection, the directions, going to the bank, withdrawing the money, posting it? Her later finding the address?
- The situation and her determination, the strategy, going to the aged care home, visiting Ben, the bonds in the past, their mutual friends, regrets at deaths? The production of Annie and his role? Is Scooter, Thelma, it, the chase through the hospital, out into the streets, his decision, to get back for the performance, riding through the city, his exasperation is, their getting lost, separation, her falling, his coming to help her up (and his story about learning how to lift patients)? They’re persevering, finding the address?
- Visiting miner, living alone, old-age, memories, and Thelma getting the gun?
- Daniel, his age, self-image, not capable of doing things, the bond with his grandmother? His parents, the fuzziness, comments, protectiveness?
- The issue of film are being lost, her alarm and her removal? The family coming to the aged care Centre, the two interrogating the family, sympathy, comic touches? The Detective and the interviews? The family staying, anxious?
- Thelma and the service station, the photo, turning up on Daniel’s phone, tracking her down, the pursuit, his driving (without the licence despite his father), arriving, Thelma throwing the alarm over the fence, getting away?
- At the post office, following Michael, the shop, the owner, the antiques, the setup for the scam? The confrontation, denials, Thelma being funded, pulling the gun, the hearing aid contact with Ben, Michael escaping, bend tripping him? The confrontation with the owner, the computer, Thelma drawing on her skills, contact with Daniel, the transfer and success?
- Reconciliation with the family, affirmation of Daniel, arriving back for the performance of any? The bond with Ben?
