Thunder Road

Name: Thunder Road
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 12, 2018
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Ammie Leonards, Bill Wise, Chelsea Edmundson, Frank Mosley, Jim Cummings

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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Thunder Road

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: October 12, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Ammie Leonards, Bill Wise, Chelsea Edmundson, Frank Mosley, Jim Cummings, Jocelyn DeBoer, Jordan Ray Fox, Kendal Farr, Macon Blair, Nican Robinson

Summary: Thunder Road follows a Texan police officer who loses his mother, custody of his daughter, and eventually his job. Inspired by one of the greatest songs ever written, we see officer Jim Arnaud apply this lullaby of his mother's to his life during his ongoing and often hilarious nervous breakdown.

Director: Jim Cummings

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 92 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Cory Woodroof

Oct 11, 2018

The film is all at once a genuine, crowd-pleasing barnstormer and an uncomfortably identifiable personal theme park 4D experience. Read full review

David Fear

Oct 11, 2018

It’s a matter of opinion whether Thunder Road is one of the best films of 2018, a distinction best left for listmakers and marketers. (Cue “It, Me” copping to the former.) But I can say it’s one of my favorites, the sort of experience where you walk out of a theater 90 minutes later and feel like something inside you has shifted two klicks to the left. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Mar 16, 2018

While it remains a fascinating character study driven by Cummings’ striking delivery, it also falls back on conventional twists. The resulting drama showcases a remarkably strong vision in the confines of more familiar story beats, but it’s a testament to Cummings’ maniacal performance that he manages to keep us engaged. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Oct 10, 2018

Thunder Road has received oodles of festival awards, including the Grand Jury Award at SXSW. The film is a singular work. Even though it doesn’t always live up to the promise of its opening sequence, Thunder Road is an exhilarating ride. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Oct 12, 2018

He’s a fascinating cinematic creation and a pronouncement of a major talent in Jim Cummings, the star, writer, and director of the SXSW Grand Jury winner, Thunder Road. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

May 14, 2018

One could argue that Thunder Road is more sympathetic than critical—which is to say, that it’s a movie that asks you to feel sorry for a white cop with serious women issues. If that’s an oversimplification, it’s because Cummings, who also wrote and directed the film, has delivered a remarkable tragicomic performance in the lead. Read full review

Filipe Freitas

Jan 27, 2019

Pelted with tragicomic scenes, Thunder Road, an acceptably funny slice of drama, depicts anxious times by carrying a furious tone and bitter pathos. However, not everything shines here. Read full review

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User Reviews

Sladeykaje

Oct 8, 2020

Wow, This was amazing!! I would never have watched this if it weren't for stumbling across that trailer. So funny, fresh and engaging. Highly recommend this one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NothingReviews

May 25, 2019

'Thunder Road' is so far one of my favorite films this year and I've watched movies like Avengers Endgame and yet I prefer watching Thunder Road again then Endgame. Jim Cummings gave a very emotional performance to his character of an Officer who has been through a lot. Everyone gave out a'Thunder Road' is so far one of my favorite films this year and I've watched movies like Avengers Endgame and yet I prefer watching Thunder Road again then Endgame. Jim Cummings gave a very emotional performance to his character of an Officer who has been through a lot. Everyone gave out a great performance, especially the child actor. It's something that most low budget movies couldn't even do, including again a child actor. Speaking of low budget, I was surprised of the cinematography, It didn't feel at all cheap to look at. The camera rarely moved so it gives out this smooth camera work when something is moving. This movie doesn't feel at all cheap. This can be compared to movies like Primer or Reservoir Dogs. The story keeps the viewer intact through the movie, the characters are interesting to watch and Overall, this is really a fantastic movie if alone for the music. The music is nothing really special but when everything in the movie from cinematography to the acting incredible, the music just felt out of place.

However, I highly recommend this film to everyone if you love to be sad… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

lennycliff123

Jun 5, 2019

It's safe to say Thunder Road is not going to appeal to a wide audience. To call it a 'dramedy' is a bit misleading and while it's wryly humerous in places, you're not going to be doing much laughing. For a 90 minute movie it felt much longer which is not a criticism, it's just that it's soIt's safe to say Thunder Road is not going to appeal to a wide audience. To call it a 'dramedy' is a bit misleading and while it's wryly humerous in places, you're not going to be doing much laughing. For a 90 minute movie it felt much longer which is not a criticism, it's just that it's so emotionally exhausting. Well worth watching but not quite worthy of all the high praise it's garnered.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MarkTakayama

Jun 12, 2020

This movie is hilarious. I love Jim. This movie is not an epic. This is a very low budget film. If you have some 90 minutes which you have nothing to do. Please watch it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KeithDow

Oct 17, 2018

'Thunder Road' is a deftly presented tragicomedy by writer/director/star Jim Cummings. Winner of multiple film festival awards--including SXSW's Grand Jury Award--the movie is a hidden gem amongst a crowded autumn release schedule.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

rmurray847

Aug 10, 2023

THUNDER ROAD begins at a funeral. Actor/director/writer Jim Cummings plays Officer Jim, a cop who comes to the front of the church to eulogize his mother. This scene is one of the most amazing and unexpected scenes I've ever watched. In a few minutes, Officer Jim veers wildy from moments ofTHUNDER ROAD begins at a funeral. Actor/director/writer Jim Cummings plays Officer Jim, a cop who comes to the front of the church to eulogize his mother. This scene is one of the most amazing and unexpected scenes I've ever watched. In a few minutes, Officer Jim veers wildy from moments of light humor while recollecting his mom, to unstoppable tears, to deeply inappropriate dancing to, frankly, a total, emotional breakdown unlike any you've seen. This guy just looses his cool, but in a way that feels unique and organic. He's all over the place, and we laugh and then we're just appalled for him. It feels real and specific and is very moving and yet uncomfortably laughable at the same time. I've not seen anything quite like it. (Apparently, this scene was originally a short film Cummings made and used to scrounge up enough funding to stretch this character's experiences into a feature film.)

The scene is probably the best thing in the movie, as we move out of the church and spend more time with Jim and, in particular, his young daughter. The girl's mother is a mess...Jim cares for her and is deeply angry at her at the same time. In fact, Jim is subject to fits of rage. He is clearly carrying around a lot of grief and confusion, and he doesn't really have an outlet or anyone to "talk to" about it. He's a proud man who doesn't want to admit he's hurting. His temper is sometimes comical and sometimes terrifying. He is, in short, a mess. But you've never seen a character quite like this or a mess quite like it either. Cummings, who is not necessarily the most gifted actor ever, has a quality about him that I've not really seen in another "star." We can laugh with him and at him, and be infuriated by him yet root for him deeply. His brand of "messed-up-ness" is singular and we feel like we're seeing a real person break down.

But, despite the mess that Jim has become, the result of the movie (and it's string of odd incidents) is a feeling of hope and uplift. Life is never going to be perfect, far from it...but perhaps Jim learns to appreciate the little joys and victories it brings. We suspect he'll always be a bit of a mess, but we also see that he might be pulling his act together at least a little.

The film will be off-putting to some. It's low budget, and that often shows. It swings wildly in tone, often within scenes. It's tough to describe the emotional impact (is it a comedy with some drama, or a drama with some comedy, or is it even a drama that doesn't realize how silly much of it is?). Cummings has made one other film (THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW) that also plays around with similar themes of anger and inchoate reaching for manly self-improvement. If you can manage it, I'd suggest a mini-film festival, with THUNDER ROAD first and then SNOW HOLLOW. While the film(s) are far from perfect, the best thing I can say is that I still can't wait to see what Cummings comes up with next. Unique!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnMalcolm

Jun 30, 2019

Save your money, save your time. This cringe-worthy, self-indulgent, one-man show is a waste of both.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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