When 93-year-old Thelma Post is tricked by a phone scammer posing as her grandson, she embarks on a dangerous city-wide quest to recover what was taken from her.
Credits: The movie db.
Distribution of film:
- Thelma: June Squibb
- Daniel: Fred Hechinger
- Ben: Richard Roundtree
- Gail: Parker Posey
- Alan: Clark Gregg
- Harvey: Malcolm McDowell
- Rochelle: Nicole Byer
- Allie: Coral Peña
- Woman in the Post Office: Hilda Boulware
- Detective Morgan: Chase Kim
- Dancer: Carol Cetrone
- Gloria (“Annie”): Sheila Korsi
- Grace: Annie O’Donnell
- Theatre Director: Zoë Worth
- Gary Starey: David Giuliani
- Winston: Ruben Rabasa
- Colin: Quinn Beswick
- Mona: Bunny Levine
- Woman at gas station: Annie Korzen
- Luis: Ivy Jones
- Maria: Sandra Lee Gimpel
- Michael: Aidan Fiske
- Selfie (archive images) (uncredited): Thelma Post
- Nursing Home Resident (uncredited): Paul LeClair
Film crew:
- Editor: Josh Margolin
- Cast: Jamie Ember
- Director of Photography: David Bolen
- Producer: Zoë Worth
- Producer: Nicholas Weinstock
- Producer: Viviana Vezzani
- Executive Producer: June Squibb
- Producer: Karl Spoerri
- Producer: Benjamin Simpson
- Producer: Chris Kaye
- Executive Producer: Fred Hechinger
- Executive Producer: Tobias Gutzwiller
- Producer: Kat Barnette
- Original music composer: Nick Chuba
- Production Design: Brielle Hubert
- Set decoration: Sandy Hubshman
- Costume Design: Amanda Wing Yee Lee
- Head of Hair Department: Denise Baker
- Head of Makeup Department: Desiree Falcon
- First Assistant Director: Justin Hogan
- Second Assistant Director: Chelsea Tummolo
- Sound mixer: Armando Macias
- Sound Effects Editor: Grant Meuers
- Stunt Coordinator: Ryan Sturz
- Stuntman: Quinn Early
- Stuntman: Sean Groves
- Stuntman: Andrew J. Neis
- Stuntman: Heidi Pascoe
- Script Supervisor: Molly Hans
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Nathan Ruyle
- Associate Producer: Gian Marco Ettisberger
- Associate Producer: Tori Jimenez Kannegieter
- ADR Mixer: Robert Louis Howley
- Foley Editor: Michael Stevenson
- Steadicam operator: Parker Brooks
- Steadicam Operator: Aaron Gantt
- Boss: Edgar Gomez
- Boss: Nate Thomson
- Boss: Auston Mahan
- Special Host: Olivia Salinas
- Music Supervisor: Simon Astall
- Art direction: Matt Toth
- Decorator: Hunter Kist
- Decorator: Luke Sirimongkhon
- Decorator: Jesse Martinez
- Decorator: Andrea Bond
- Makeup Artist: Victoria Payne
- Makeup Artist: Melanie Young
- Makeup Artist: June Brickman
- Foley Artist: Mike Miller
- Title Designer: Emma Berliner
- Colorist: Dante Pasquinelli
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Ryan Zum Mallen
- Music Editor: Scott Hedrick
- Assistant Editor: Ciara Boniface
- Second second assistant director: Jeremy Gerke
- Head Stylist: Autumn Sanders
- Head Stylist: Jasmine Kimble
- In memory of: Richard Roundtree
Film reviews:
- Brent Marchant: According to playwright David Mamet, “Age and betrayal will always defeat youth and exuberance.” And if 93-year-old Thelma Post (June Squibb) has anything to say about that in this action-packed, fact-based dramedy, you can take that idea to the bank. In this story of a vivacious but sometimes gullible retired widow living alone, we watch—often with startled wonder—a feisty, independent senior determined to get her money back when she’s swindled by a phone-phishing scheme. Thelma keeps quiet about her plan to her family (Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg), who are already worried about her ability to continue living on her own, and enlists the help of a wily old friend (Richard Roundtree) to accompany her on her quest to recover the stolen money. The result is an outrageous farce with humor that’s distinctly quirky but never far-fetched or over-the-top. But there’s more to this offering than just laughs: the sight of capable, underappreciated seniors taking charge of their lives (and, in the case of this film, even performing their own stunts!) is truly inspiring. This is supported by a powerful and moving (though never preachy) underlying look at what it’s like to grow older and the losses it brings, a bittersweet meditation on the inevitable changes that come with age and how quickly they come, material that’s deftly and often philosophically intertwined with comedy. Director Josh Margolin’s feature-length debut represents an impressive debut for the writer-actor, with a superbly written, well-balanced and evenly paced script recounting the experiences of his own 103-year-old grandmother, who is still alive and kicking and whose real-life home was used as one of the film’s main filming locations. It’s also a triumph for the 94-year-old Squibb in the first leading role of his career, an Oscar-worthy part that effectively portrays a wide-ranging talent that has been repressed for too long. And the film is a nice showcase for Roundtree in his final feature-length performance, in which we see him in a different light than in many of his previous roles and in which he meshes perfectly with his wily co-star. My only issue with the film is with the depiction of Thelma’s family, in which the development of its three leads never quite gets right, seemingly reaching for something that doesn’t fit properly, an aspect of the narrative that clearly could have used a bit more refinement. Otherwise, though, “Thelma” (or “Thelmaf,” as it was known in an alternate version of the title) is one of the most fun and well-produced new releases I’ve seen in quite some time. So hop on your scooter and get moving to see it, or else…
- CinemaSerf: Grandma “Thelma” (June Squibb) is cruelly scammed by a man who pretends that her beloved grandson “Daniel” (Fred Hechinger) has been in a car accident with a pregnant woman. Out $10,000, her family realizes she’s been scammed and she wants no part of it. She recruits her friend “Ben” (Richard Roundtree) – or, more accurately, hijacks his mobility scooter – escapes her family’s protective custody and sets off to find the culprit. Squibb and Roundtree are obviously having a grand old time as the pair embark on a series of geriatric adventures that illustrate, clearly, that while the body may be weak, the spirit is very much alive and kicking – and you know you’re in for a decent ending with Malcolm McDowell also in the starting lineup. I think Hechinger tried a little too hard, but there’s still something enjoyable about his sometimes somewhat theatrical performance and his dynamic with the charming and formidably witty Squibb. Clark Gregg and Parker Posey make up the rest of the family, and they quite entertainingly shed light on the problems of parents dealing with an elderly relative (who they genuinely care about), while trying to live their own lives and keep an eye on a son who, to make matters worse, has recently separated from the love of his life. The film does falter a bit for ten minutes towards the end, as it struggles a bit to dwell on the stupidity of the headstrong, but overall there’s plenty to laugh about as the pair progress. You probably won’t remember it for a long time after watching it, but it’s a good laugh that just confirmed what I’ve thought for years. Those cars need a lane of their own!
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