Beautiful Boy

December 16, 2018 / Tom / 11 Comments

Release: Friday, October 12, 2018 (limited) →Theater Written by: Luke Davies; Felix van Groeningen Directed by: Felix van Groeningen I think it is important to note how specific an experience Beautiful Boy describes. Closing titles reveal some alarming statistics about the pervasiveness of drug abuse in America but the film does not presume to speak for everyone. This is about … Continue reading Beautiful Boy

White Boy Rick

September 21, 2018 / Tom / 9 Comments

Release: Friday, September 14, 2018 →Theater Written by: Andy Weiss; Noah and Logan Miller Directed by: Yann Demange In his piece for the New York Observer, the innately likable Rex Reed writes of the White Boy Rick experience: "I can think of no reason any bright, witty or halfway sophisticated movie lover -- or otherwise normal person -- … Continue reading White Boy Rick

March Blindspot: Trainspotting (1996)

March 31, 2017April 4, 2017 / Tom / 26 Comments

Release: Friday, August 9, 1996 [YouTube] Written by: John Hodge Directed by: Danny Boyle One of the things I had presumed about Danny Boyle's iconic drug drama Trainspotting was that it was really bleak, and it was that way from start to finish. Don't get me wrong -- this film is not happy, but I wasn't expecting so much compassion. … Continue reading March Blindspot: Trainspotting (1996)

The Infiltrator

July 25, 2016May 16, 2017 / Tom / 10 Comments

Release: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 [Theater] Written by: Ellen Brown Furman Directed by: Brad Furman Brad Furman wasn't looking to infiltrate more elite groups of directors who had earlier tackled the gritty but ever fascinating subject of the drug trafficking epidemic in America when he paired up with Bryan Cranston. That much is clear just based on the relative nonchalance … Continue reading The Infiltrator

Filth

August 3, 2015March 21, 2017 / Tom / 35 Comments

Release: Friday, April 25, 2014 (limited) [Netflix] Written by: Jon S. Baird Directed by: Jon S. Baird What's that old adage -- nice guys finish last? Nice guys are also chumps. James McAvoy as Scottish Detective Sergeant Bruce Robinson added that last part. It wasn't me. I'm not the guy bumping a line or two before work, … Continue reading Filth

Inherent Vice

January 13, 2015February 24, 2017 / Tom / 34 Comments

Release: January 9, 2015 (limited) [Theater] Written by: Paul Thomas Anderson Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson The Andersonian school of thought is that one ought to at least work a little for their entertainment. A movie featuring a bunch of booze, bongs and babes doesn't seem like it would be hard to follow along with, but if you … Continue reading Inherent Vice

Kill the Messenger

December 5, 2014February 20, 2017 / Tom / 17 Comments

Release: Friday, October 10, 2014 (limited) [Theater] Written by: Peter Landesman Directed by: Michael Cuesta Stories like this make me feel better about writing about less hardcore things than politics . . . . like movies. Because even as a much-loathed film critic your work may come home with you, but it's not likely to ever actually follow you home. (Unless, … Continue reading Kill the Messenger

Lucy

July 25, 2014February 6, 2017 / Tom / 37 Comments

Release: Friday, July 25, 2014 [Theater] While it's true this outing is a step up from last year's The Family, with director Luc Besson even seeming willing to dip his toes into deeper waters as far as interesting concepts are concerned, we are, unfortunately, still not operating at 100% yet. It might seem dismissive to rule this summer's latest sci-fi … Continue reading Lucy

UPPER (The Upper Footage)

July 23, 2014February 6, 2017 / Tom / 17 Comments

Release: Friday, January 31, 2014 (online) [Vimeo] I would like to just say how thrilled I am to be able to feature this review on Thomas J. I would additionally like to extend my thanks to Tiffany and everyone at The Upper Footage for providing me the opportunity to watch their film. A chilling throwback to … Continue reading UPPER (The Upper Footage)

Brick Mansions

April 27, 2014February 4, 2017 / Tom / 18 Comments

Release: Friday, April 25, 2014 [Theater] While the last film to feature a performance from Paul Walker is as dumb as a brick, there is something haunting, almost immortalizing left behind in the rubble of this, his final role. Maybe it's more haunting because the last major role of his is stuck in a picture as … Continue reading Brick Mansions

Thomas J

My Journey Through Film

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