Thunder Road (2018) watch online HD

Saw this a Hell's Half Mile Film fest in Bay City, Michigan and Jim Cummings wrote, directed and gave a stunning lead performance in this festival gem, which I believe is his first full feature after bouncing around doing short films and a little TV work. He has the acting chops to pull off his own written vision of this unstable police officer who can slip from calm, deranged and sorrowful multiple times within one scene. Impressive for he must do this most if not all of this 90 minute film carrying off this complicated character through losing his mother, wife in divorce, his job and every thing he holds dear as he sinks into despair. I hope this propels his movie making skills to new wide release films in the future.

It's not often I enjoy a film with such constant tonal shifts throughout, but I did with this one. The film essentially made me laugh, made me emotive and made me think - which is all a viewer can ask for really. Right from the extraordinary opening monologue, the film grabs the viewer and reels you into the heady mix of comedy and tragedy. Some are going to hate this movie because of that. There are moments of black comedy placed into scenes of real drama - which shouldn't really work. But it does. For me at least.

The focus is on single parenting, life, stress, happiness, anxiety, mental health, love. Jim Cummings wrote, directed and starred in it - and you can tell he totally believed in this project by the performance he puts in. Although he can possibly be accused of overracting at times, he is quite brilliant at others. There are some flawed moments - some real "wtf" scenes with a potential dealbreaking third act.

The placement of comedy is the talking point in many places. But overall I would recommend this movie for those who are suckers for an indie dramedy. 7.5 / 10.

A wonderful film that I certainly wouldn't say is a comedy. The film's moving as it's devoted to the human will, what it can endure, what it can overcome in the most dire of circumstances when need be. I feel as though it's a testament to the human experience. Life can hit you hard, over and over again, and you have to get back up, that's the message I gleaned. Cummings portrays his character with masterful skill, at no point did I think I was watching a film, I was all in and I truly hope we see more of him. This is a story of hope even though at times it is hard to see it.

If you have read the other reviews, then you will know that this movie is being judged for all the wrong reasons. Jim Cummings put his heart and soul into this film and because it is listed as a comedy and a drama, some have decided to deride this film because of it. It is what most would call a Black Comedy. I saw the official trailer for it, and anyone that saw the trailer would know that this is more drama/tragedy with dark comedic elements, but there are pedants here in internet land that wish to harp on about this film not being properly categorized. Get over it and watch the movie, because it is brilliant! If you have ever experienced loss, then you will connect to the main character's myriad emotions. Jim Cummings does an excellent job as the beleaguered protagonist, and the film moves along at a stride that fits his circumstance, culminating in a third act that is a bit surprising, but fitting. I also loved Macon Blair (Blue Ruin), as Crystal's teacher. Independent films are not for everybody, and many of them are poorly executed, cast, or directed, but Thunder Road is the reason why I watch them, because, otherwise, all we would be presented with are big studio, unoriginal bombastic gunfight and explosion filled sensory overload. I like those movies too, but sometimes, it is a treasure to see a finely crafted and emotional character study.

Directed, written and starring Jim Cummings, this is an independent movie about a police officer having a meltdown. Jim Cummings puts in a great performance but at times over-acts a little and there are too many tonal shifts which makes the whole thing a little jarring.

Jim is a Texas police officer. Everything is falling apart in his life and his reactions make things worse. He has difficulties connecting with himself and others. Between tragedy and comedy, this feature film addresses the issue of masculine identity: how do you deal with your emotions if you are a sensitive man and if you have always been taught to repress them? Indeed, Jim would like to be as tough as John Wayne's characters, but he is not a hero: he is Jim. He is affected by toxic masculinity and he lacks emotional maturity. It's quite a good movie, with an interesting topic handled in an original way. However, it's a bit excessive. The main character has to endure so many hardships, that it's hard to believe. Moreover, Jim Cummings overacts sometimes.

As somebody from the U.K. critiquing a US drama it is a difficult job, especially when nuances, way of life and local daily life is so difficult to encapsulate for somebody who does not live and breathe life in a certain country, state or even town. Again, whilst I found Jim an anomaly of a character, somebody I do not recognise in the U.K. per se, I embrace that this could be normal in small town America. I did not dislike it, in fact the acting and pathos ran well with a viewers affection for the main cast and I always welcome a film that feels strong enough to omit (sometimes annoying) background music. That said, anything named after a song by the 'Peoples Poet' and one of my all time favourite songs I would like some reference to it and perhaps for it to be a backdrop to the film. Now I could be missing a trick here that the song was never played for a deeper meaning, but it would have served the film better, in my opinion, if this was a haunting backdrop to the crises being played out. When all said and done, a solid effort that improved as it progressed.

This is just a sad drama - Nothing to do with comedy at all!

Waiting for a turning point with some "thunder", but no, none of that either. 6 points for good lead actor. -7 for not delivering on the genre.

I'd need to preface this that this movie is in no way, in my opinion, a comedy. This movie is a drama and is meant to pull the heartstrings. It does this pulling well.... eventually (read the rest). Most of the movie seems to be a show of how the main character has it going against him. The movie does, eventually (and I mean a long eventually), shows how the main character becomes the hero of the story to what's important. With that out of the way...

Every character in this movie is gutter trash in one way or another. Enjoy the movie as a time waster and a, again extremely long eventual, heartstrings puller. The hero, the wife, the child, the boss, and every character in this movie, expect the dead mother, are all extremely horrible to each other.

Horrible comedy, even as a dark one. Abysmal drama tbh. Don't waste your time on this one; I wish I hadn't.

Could not stand to watch more than 15 minutes of this film before bailing out. Nonsensical and stupid story.

Basically a movie about a guy who cries at every opportunity. Tiring...

I wasted 90 minutes of my life watching this movie. I dont see how people can love this movie : there is no story and no comedy in it. Do not do the same mistake I did by watching this thing. Instead, you can do a lot of things in 90 minutes.

'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.

Story: slightly dumb cop is emotionally upset in his mother's funeral. Should be on leave because was violent with boss, but decides to go to work, ends up being more violent then he should with a civilian, is sent home. His junkie ex-wife files in court to change the custody of their daughter to be with her all the time, because she is planning on relocating, and doesn't want the bother of travelling to take the kid to the father often. In court, cop says something that stupid judge elieves to be a threat, and decides to side with wife. Wife is found dead from overdose. The end.

This movie represents everything that is wrong with independent mumblecore movies. Incoherent, confusing, abrasive, and flat out offensive in places. Characters don't act like real people. The main "actor/director/executive producer/co-editor/writer" feigns every emotion, camera move, line of dialogue, and premise. I want my money back, and I hope this filmmaker never makes a movie again in his entire life.

I love dark humor in trying situations but the humor in this supposed comedy/drama is more appropriate for a Kevin James sitcom than what is apparently intended to be an emotional film. Moreover, the protagonist is unlikable, so it's difficult to have empathy for his situation (which becomes ridiculous anyway). The entire movie is filled with angst, but it has no heart. So instead of being drawn in by the characters you wind up wanting them to just go away.

I usually hang on until the end in hopes a bad movie will get better, but I only made it halfway through this one and I still want my 45 minutes back. How this is rated as high as it is escapes me, unless the voting is rigged. If you want to see unstable cops acting out just watch an episode of "Reno 911!"-- it's better than this tripe and it'll be over sooner. It you want to see dark humor done right, watch "In Bruge". But don't waste your time on this mess.

...and I'm not saying that just because it's not funny. Obviously that's a matter of perspective. The thing is, most of the time it really doesn't even try to be funny. I don't know if they categorized it as a comedy first in the hopes it would make it seem more appealing, but I watched it hoping to laugh, not to get treated to a bleak, slow-moving, depressing and almost documentary-feeling portrait of an unbalanced loser battling grief and an endless cascade of major and minor misfortunes. Some people (including a lot of critics) seem to have found it moving and inspiring, I did not. Perhaps I'd have viewed it differently if it wasn't marketed as a comedy. But it is, and as such it fails in absolutely all respects.

It's hard to pull off the comedy drama genre but they did big-time in this one! I've laughed hard that I cried but this film was diff because I laughed and sad-cried at the same time.

Either you will like this one, or you wont, this is not a movie for people who likes to be partially joyous or partially sad. This movie will bore you, you would want to say screw this and cut to the end. This movie is not about inspiration or drama or fun or life or achievement, It's none of those things. So, if you are looking for a certain meaning in this movie, well.... there is one, but you cannot guess, even in 2 10 lifetimes. But, if you choose to watch it til the end, regardless, you will not be the same person again. You might not like the actors, the choreography and what not, and at that moment, i strongly suggest, ignore. Ignore everything, steel your mind and finish the movie.

Good interpretations..but never more than 6...story not relevante or with any interst

Bad actor, bad story. Unrelatable, forced, stupis. What a waste of time.

Im surprised not because if how stupid nonsense this "movie" is but because of the high ratings and metascore This cant be real for true Watching the paint dry is far more entertaining

This film is obviously not for everyone, and if you're expecting a 'rom-com' you might find yourself disappointed. That said, 'Thunder Road' delivers its somber-toned narrative with nuanced humor and finesse. This was my personal introduction to Jim Cummings (who wrote, directed, and starred in the film), and in spite of the many reviewers' complaints that his character was unlikable, I must say that I was duly impressed (having experienced an unusual mix of empathy, pity, levity, and bemusement in response to his performance). It seems pretty apparent that Cummings wrote the role of 'Officer Jim Arnaud' with himself in mind for the part, and for that reason was uniquely capable of so adroitly navigating that ambivalent tight-rope that is the comedic drama (or dramatic comedy... or what-have-you).

To those reviewers angrily contesting the categorization of this film (as 'comedy') I would ask you to think back to the tragicomedies of old and to remember that all is not black and white.

First sign of a cheap to produce and distribute production is that the DVD has no menu in the beginning (e.g. chapters, specials), and most importantly no subtitles for the less proficient English speaking or those w/hearing issues. Enunciations & audio were OK, but not good enough to compensate, not that it mattered as nothing of value is said anyway. As for the script you have an acts weird/bizarre, needs psychological help, cop that you ask yourself how he got the job and is still on the job. To make matters worse some of his fellow cops are also a little bizarre and not the "right stuff" for the job. Not good image making for the people who have that tough job. Was there suppose to be humor in his antics? Not even close unless you are into drunks who act & say anything. Very forgettable (and wasted) 90 min.

Its boring. stupid. Slow. Did I say boring yet?

It tries to cover some sensitive subjects, but the over-the-top silly acting just ruins any 'drama' there might be, and that does NOT create comedy (as I said before, there was NOTHING in this movie that even made me even crack a smile)

I have no idea how its rated so high.. but then IMDB has been failing in that sense for years now I guess.

If your stuck on deciding to watch this or stare at the window, pick the window. Better use of your time.