Career at The Washington Post Thomson joined
The Washington Post in the 1980s, initially working as a copy aide before transitioning to
film criticism. He became a staff film critic in the Weekend and Style sections, a position he held for over two decades. Known for his vivid writing style and critical insight, Thomson wrote hundreds of reviews, features, and essays on cinema. In 1987, when he named
Todd Haynes’s
Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, an indie film which employed Barbie dolls, the best movie of that year, and in years such as 2007 when he named
Zodiac,
No Country for Old Men, and
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly among the best films of the year, he signaled his preference for auteur-driven, innovative storytelling. Throughout his career, Thomson often advocated for originality in filmmaking and was critical of Hollywood’s reliance on remakes and formulaic content. In a widely read column, he criticized the film industry for revisiting classic movies without offering fresh creative value, arguing that remakes represented a decline in artistic ambition.
Work in Public Service After leaving
The Washington Post, Thomson transitioned into political communications. He continued in this role under Secretary
John Kerry, contributing to major policy addresses and public diplomacy initiatives. His colleagues during this time included other former journalists, such as
Glen Johnson and
Douglas Frantz. He has been featured in interviews, panel discussions, and retrospectives on
film criticism, and his writings continue to be cited in scholarly and journalistic works on cinema. His writing blends a passion for film history with cultural insight, encouraging audiences to reconsider slower, more meditative cinematic works in light of contemporary challenges.
Musical career In addition to his work as a political speechwriter and former film critic, Thomson is also a musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the co-founder and lead vocalist of the
Washington, D.C.–based band Cairo Fred, which he formed in 2000 alongside longtime friend, collaborator and guitarist/pianist Bradford Heck, who died in 2025. In 2022, Thomson and Heck’s songs receive 5 awards, including honorable mentions in the Songwriters Association of Washington contest, and an honorable mention the following year under the "Open" category due to the genre-defying nature of their work. Beyond Cairo Fred, Thomson has performed in numerous tribute concerts for BandHouse Gigs and Newmyer Flyer, honoring artists such as
Joni Mitchell,
David Bowie,
Bruce Springsteen,
Tom Petty,
Burt Bacharach and
Hal David, and the
British New Wave. He is also known for his theatrical role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in stage productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ==References==