In my lifetime I remember Walter Matthau for his roles in such forgettable movies as Dennis the Menace, I.Q. and Grumpy Old Men. So I judged him based on these movies, dismissed him as a second-rate talent living off residual star power from decades past. I assumed he was the 1970’s equivalent of Tom Cruise – maybe in some decent flicks but certainly not carrying them. Then, earlier this year, I read an exchange by several writers discussing 70’s noir films, and one title that kept coming up was Charley Varrick. Trusting these opinions, I went to Amazon and ordered the movie without really paying much attention. The DVD arrived, and I was more than a little surprised to see the face of a younger Matthau staring back at me from the cover.I watched the movie. I loved the movie. I watched it again.

And what I saw was Walter Matthau being awesome. He plays the title character, an everyman antihero on the run after stealing the wrong pile of cash from the wrong people. The plot’s not important, though, as Matthau himself is the reason to see this film.

Filled with a newfound respect for the grumpy old man, I turned my attention to the Criterion Collection DVD of Hopscotch. In this dark spy comedy Matthau shines again, this time as a CIA agent who decides to out the agency by writing his memoirs. In both movies Matthau plays an in-control protagonist, perpetually one step ahead of his pursuers, and he plays it perfectly.

All this is an apology of sorts. I just want to say, I’m sorry, Mr. Matthau, for not realizing you were awesome while you were still alive. Up next is Matthau’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, which I have it on good authority is also awesome.