Feature debut of Jim Cummings who also writes and “performs”
(per closing credits) the lead here in Thunder
Road taking its title from the Springsteen song (which is not in the film)
A stirring character study of a man in freefall
Starts with a 12 minute shot of the eulogy—his emotional speech,
dancing. It is vulnerable, sad, affecting, profanity-laden, funny… then the
title credits- nice touch
Cummings’ Officer Jim Arnaud—swings in character without being
inconsistent, comes off as realistic actually- a person you’re almost always
afraid around, he’s spiraling out of control, had a divorce, his stressful job
at work, dyslexia, mother’s death, losing custody of his daughter
Loves the term “slicker”- haha. As in “is this what you wanted
out of your life? Hanging out with two slickers in a car outside of a dillard’s?”-
ha
He’s like half Michael
Douglas’ character in Schumacher’s Falling
Down– and half Owen Wilson in Bottle
Rocket
Indie-king Macon Blair
shows up for a great scene with Cummings- he plays Cummings’ daughter’s teacher
– like the “foodie with a booty” coffee mug his sister has
Like the opening
scene, there’s a strong scene in the parking lot outside of the police station
1 hour in. Unraveled—nice pairing with the opening.
It is a enormous performance
– there’s often legitimate pain and humor coming from him in back to back
sentences
[…] Thunder Road – Cummings […]