Hopscotch (1980)

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This first-rate spy thriller from the competent Ronald Neame, known for a wide range of films including The Poseidon Adventure, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Chalk Garden, provides a different kind of spy for the era in the person of Walter Matthau, the last entity someone might expect in the same genre of which James Bond is the most famous character. All through the 1970s there was a push to present "spies" in the manner they really existed, as ordinary-looking, easy-to-ignore nobodies who did quiet work without getting noticed. Hopscotch is the best of this counter-thriller spy culture, mixed with a dry comedic element than made the film fun. It was a sensation when it came out, a sleeper hit so called, and though dated to its time period, the intellectual elements of the film remain wholly intact. It's well worth the time, even though stealing from this film results somewhat in parts of it now being made predictable. Once again, the film suffers from doing it first and generally better than later copycats.

The film also includes Glenda Jackson at the apex of her career, just at the point where she began seriously considering moving to another career; becoming increasingly political, she considered numerous alternatives that culminated in her being elected a Member of Parliament in Britain, a position she held for 25 years. In Hopscotch she is an absolute gem, surly, sarcastic, a perfect foil for Matthau; they had appeared together in 1978's House Calls, another smash hit that did for the medical profession what this film does for the spy industry. Pairing them up again, given the chemistry they had, was a natural choice.

Matthau's career is so dependent upon his association with Jack Lemmon (they made nine films together) that modern audiences are sometimes unaware of Matthau's interest in choosing crime drama projects, the elements of which leak into this film also.  His earlier performances in Kotch and Charley Varrick add to his credibility in the role of Miles Kendig, brilliantly hopping and jumping one step ahead of the C.I.A. as they attempt to muzzle him. Matthau is also at the height of his career, making films that interest him and having the box office numbers that permitted him to work with whomever he wanted at the time.

Ned Beatty and Sam Waterston round out the cast, the latter such a young kid it's hard to believe he's not still in short pants. Still, he's coming off an excellent performance in 1978's Capricorn One, and is thus getting bigger parts. Beatty has less range as an actor, but his small diminuative stature is good for this role; around this time, Beatty is absolutely everyone, becoming one of those "that-actor"s that everyone recognises but no one knows their name.