After she is the victim of a phone scam, 93-year-old Thelma (June Squibb) goes on the trial of the perpetrators.
When I read the premise for this movie, I saw it going in either of two directions: A full-on genre parody or a straight action/vigilante movie.
While aware of the genre it is drawing on, Thelma’s forte is understatement - it grounds itself in the realities of being 93 in the 2020s.
Obstacles are as mundane as tripping on a fallen lamp or slipping while climbing stairs.
The stakes are so small but relatable: She wants to remain independent, and her quest is ultimately about our heroine proving she has control of her life choices.
Richard Roundtree plays Ben, an old friend who has moved into a retirement community. He has accepted his age in a way that Thelma has not.
Roundtree’s recent passing adds an additional poignancy as the characters reckon with ageing and loneliness.
It is a credit to the movie that it never comes off as sentimental or maudlin.
This is an action thriller, first and foremost.
The film’s style does not lean into overt choices.
The editing is fast but does not try to overwhelm the viewer or the tone of the story.
It is a subtle evocation of the action film’s key feature: forward momentum.
Our heroes are on a quest and the film is focused on that mission as they work through every obstacle.
June Squibb is magnificent. She brings an integrity and sense of purpose. She can be ridiculous (one suspense scene is triggered when she thinks she recognises a stranger and then goes through a long list of who this person might be).
While it has fun with the characters’ various physical impairments, the film never feels like it is demeaning its protagonists.
It is a story about people’s fear of losing agency and being seen as unproductive members of society. While Thelma’s fear of irrelevance is foregrounded, her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) is tormented by his inability to fit in.
He has no job or qualifications; he does not even have a driver’s licence. He thinks he is worthless.
By the end of the movie, our heroine has learned to accept what she cannot control and to ask for help.
As someone with a physical disability, it is rare that I feel any great affinity for any characters I see onscreen. This is especially true of action movies.
Thelma was one of the few action movies where I felt a connection and understanding of what the character was going through - Thelma’s lack of balance and fear of falling hit close to home.
And it was not just in terms of the character - the film’s message is ultimately a challenge to the way we value people.
One of the saddest aspects of contemporary life is the way people are valued according to their potential economic productivity.
Thelma rebukes that idea.
It also uses the title character to dismiss the idea of rugged individualism. This is a key theme to American action movies, but one of the delights of Thelma is how the character’s single-minded crusade brings her to the point of disaster.
When she learns to accept help, she is able to finally achieve her goal - and end the film with both her independence, and a community that can support her.
My favourite movie of the year.
