FILM: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a rollicking E-ticket ride from beginning to end, and a marvelous way to send off the beloved but aged professor-adventurer. Bravo to the now 80-year old Harrison Ford who can totally still bring it. The film opens with immediate high adrenaline at the close of WWII, when a 45-year old Indiana Jones and an Oxford archaeology colleague are trying to keep some invaluable ancient artefacts out of the hands of the Nazis. There was some amazing AI-driven CGI de-aging, but that’s the actual Harrison Ford doing all that running and fighting in and on a moving train. Then we flash forward to “present day” 1969, when the 70-year old Professor Jones is nearing retirement, a curmudgeonly old man in highest “get off my lawn” dudgeon, beating on his young neighbor’s door when the music is too loud. But just when he’s despairing of getting this new generation of students to care about anything, it turns out that there are still a few remaining Nazis with some diabolical plans concerning ancient artefacts with supernatural power. And just like that, as fast as you can crack a whip, the aging Indiana finds a new reason to race across Morocco, Greece, and Italy, solving ancient mysteries and unlocking secrets, with Nazis (and possibly the CIA) in hot pursuit. The film shifts into high gear and never lets up, with high speed chases, and lots of winks and nods to previous films. The other moving part in this engrossing contraption is the appearance of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena “Wombat” Shaw, Indy’s long-neglected goddaughter. She might be the perfect partner for this latest last adventure. Or is she? “How did you turn out this way?” Indy asks her at one point. “You mean strong, confident, beautiful, and exceptionally capable?” she retorts. Indeed, she is all that, and if she turns up in more movies, I’m in. At risk of spoilers, I’ll say no more except to say that the ending is pure gold. And also, speaking of active octo+genarians, bravo to John Williams who at age 91 has turned out yet another marvelous score, fanning the familiar themes and introducing new ones. If you have any nostalgia for Indiana Jones, or just if you enjoy a good action-adventure film, don’t miss it!