Thunder Road and Parenthood
Jim Cumming’s breakout film explores the hardships of being an adult, and the joy of being a parent.
Jim Cumming’s passion project Thunder Road follows the neurotic police man, Jim, on his journey to claim joint custody of his child, Crystal, from his wife, Morgan. Beginning with a whopping twelve minute long take that humanized the main character while making me laugh with a deadpan sense of humor, it became immediately obvious that this movie would be one for me. Even more incredible, when watching you realize this $190,000 dollar package has a lot more to offer than its budget should allow. Running only ninety minutes, Thunder Road refuses to let up on its off beat humor, brilliant dialogue, and emotional turmoil until the credits roll, making for a new favorite that I cannot wait to watch again.
High praise, I know. Hitting the scene in 2018, Thunder Road put Jim Cumming’s name on the map being the director, writer, lead actor, composer, visual FX artist, and co-editor of the production. And that’s all I’m aware of, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if he was holding the boom for himself. The film only works because of Cumming’s compelling and convincing performance as a lonely, broken, man who simply needs someone to talk with. You know what they say, wrestle an alligator, watch the alligator, that is until you lose your daughter in a divorce hearing with one wrong slip of the tongue and a detrimentally generous attitude.
Thunder Road sustains an intimate tone throughout its off the wall dialogue through its cinematic techniques that could have only been executed by someone as talented as Cumming’s helming the project. Many of the most important scenes, including the opening, are solid one takes where Cumming has to keep up the performance of an awkward, desperate, father longing for nothing more than to be a good parent that would leave other actors laughing, crying, or simply breaking character. Scenes will begin in wide and slowly zoom into a medium close for minutes on end, allowing the actors to remain in the moment. Zero interruption from the film itself allows the audience to feel more connected with the characters, world, and conflict at the heart of the story.
It’s here where the script has to be praised, for not only its aforementioned unique brand of comedy, but for its effective dramatic moments punctuated with hints of character idiosyncrasies that keep everyone feeling fresh and unique. In such a short amount of time the film is able to place a spotlight on an oddball of a protagonist that gets beaten to no end, constantly losing to the point where he has nothing else. This is crucial for a good story, and it allows the audience to empathize with the protagonist that much more, another element that adds to the intimate tone of the feature. Like many of my other favorite movies, it’s a family drama, and a polished one at that. Again, the fact that a film this unique, this hilarious, this well done was made with less than $200,000 is nothing short of a miracle, and I’m grateful such a movie exists.
However, it would be a bit unfaithful to review this movie without mentioning the personal ways in which it struck me, as I can’t say my own biases had zero influence on my enjoyment of the film. I’ve been thinking a lot about parenthood, and I personally cannot wait for it. Recently I’ve been noticing father and child on the street and thinking to myself “I need that to be me.” I’ve thought of giving my child the most perfect childhood imaginable with trips to museums and aquariums, parks and trails, and into his mother and father’s arms. I imagine a future where I treat my child only with the joys of life, exposing them to films and art alongside popsicles and popcorn. I cannot wait for parenthood because it will be perfect.
The thing is, I’m certain any parent would say that there is no such thing as perfect parenthood. There is no flawless parent child relationship, there is no effortless childhood, there is no such thing as an easy time being an adult. Thunder Road is certainly a reminder of that fact, with Jim consistently struggling with his job, family, and his emotions at the root of it all. Like myself, Jim has a desperate desire to do right by his child. Despite the fact his wife is a terrible mother, he argues for joint custody as he feels it’s important for Crystal. He spends all night practicing a silly hand game that upset his daughter when he failed on his first attempt. He tells her to not wear makeup and watches for her “slicker” 4th grade boyfriend, which seems like an overprotective demand, but that is simply because he is overprotective out of love for his daughter. It is through Jim where the audience and fellow policeman Officer Nate learn the value of family, as we realize how sad it is to have none at all. No mom, no daughter, and no wife, Jim has lost everything, and it is only remedied by a simple conversation with Nate. In an emotional montage of the two drinking and playing ball after Jim loses Crystal, the audience catches a glimpse at Jim being happy for the first time in too long. It’s through his sadness and lack of personal connection despite his silent desperation for it that shows the audience how important family is. Concluding with Jim finally achieving his dream of taking his daughter to a ballet recital, I could not help but sob as he stares at Crystal intimately engaged the show. As Jim cried, I cried too; I felt the same happiness he did. I want my kid to have a safe and perfect childhood, and that same desire is portrayed in excellent, emotional, bliss when Jim finally achieves it.
Thunder Road is a film that helped prepare me for the harsh realities of parenthood, but at the same reinforced my excitement for it, because in the end, all of the hardships would have been worth it to see the most precious thing in my life smile at a ballet.