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Features editor at @captimes. Member: @criticschoice. rthomas(at)captimes.com. "Mr. Minion Shorts himself!" -- John Hodgman
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Articles by Rob Thomas
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ brings back the carnage
Godzilla is back and he’s not happy in “Godzilla Minus Zero.” (GKIDS) If you grew up watching Godzilla movies on Saturday afternoon television, you knew the drill. Thrilling scenes of city-smashing goodness, alternating with boring scenes in boardrooms and laboratories of men (and usually one cute little boy) talking on and on about the city-smashers.
‘Fjord’ gazes up at the mountains between us
Sebastian Stan and Renata Reinsve play parents accused of child abuse in “Fjord.” (NEON) Romanian director Christian Mingiu has made a career out of acclaimed films that explore people trying to survive in oppressive systems, such as the teenage girl trying to secure an illegal abortion in “Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days,” or the woman trying to save her friend from a repressive convent in “Beyond the Hills.” Not that Rob Thomas is a reader-supported publication.
Yule probably hate ‘Christmas at the Kringles’
Arden Myrin and Thomas Lennon get inside the head of Rachel Bilson in “Christmas at the Kringles.” (Briarcliff Entertainment) In theory, opening on Oct. 30 would be the sweet spot for a Christmas-themed horror comedy. You’re in theaters the day before Halloween to grab the last-minute horror fans, but sticking around into November to catch the yuletide-loving audience already wearing their holiday sweaters.
What Wales makes of the Budget: 'It helps, but it's not enough'
Chancellor John Healey has set out the government's tax and spending plans in his Budget, the first since Andy Burnham became prime minister. But what do people in Wales think? On Wednesday the Budget focused on easing household costs, with energy bill support, a £100 payment for many households, higher state pensions and minimum wages, and changes designed to help carers and low-income pensioners.
‘Soul Patrol’ is a moving tribute to brothers in arms
“Soul Patrol” looks at a special ops team of Black soldiers in Vietnam and the things they carry a half-century later. (Kino Lorber) When Ed Emanuel wrote his book “Soul Patrol” in 2003, it was as much a distress signal as a memoir. A successful journalist, Emanuel was still haunted by his experiences in Vietnam decades early, part of an elite all-Black special ops team whose nickname gave the book its name.
Movie review: ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’
Writer-director Noah Segan knows that shots of John Turturro walking the streets of New York City are alluring on their own. (Sony Pictures Classics) One scene in “The Only Living Pickpocket In New York” hits hard if you’re of a certain age. A petty thief and a detective are sitting in a New York City subway car together. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, they seem to have a gruff affection for each other, two old-timers grousing about their ailments and the kids these days.
Dyn sy'n cael ei gyhuddo o lofruddio ei dad yn ymddangos yn y llys
Mae dyn sy'n cael ei gyhuddo o lofruddio ei dad mewn fflat yng Nghaergybi wedi ymddangos yn Llys y Goron Caernarfon. Cafodd Martin Joseph Ward, o Ffordd Kingsland, ei arestio ar ôl i gorff ei dad, Michael Ward, gael ei ddarganfod yn ystod oriau mân fore dydd Sadwrn. Cafodd Michael Ward ei ddatgan yn farw yn y fan a'r lle, er gwaethaf ymdrechion y gwasanaethau brys. Mewn ymddangosiad byr dros ddolen fideo ni ddywedodd Martin Ward unrhyw beth.
Dyn sy'n cael ei gyhuddo o lofruddio ei dad yn ymddangos yn y llys
Mae dyn sy'n cael ei gyhuddo o lofruddio ei dad mewn fflat yng Nghaergybi wedi ymddangos yn Llys y Goron Caernarfon. Cafodd Martin Joseph Ward, o Ffordd Kingsland, ei arestio ar ôl i gorff ei dad, Michael Ward, gael ei ddarganfod yn ystod oriau mân fore dydd Sadwrn. Cafodd Michael Ward ei ddatgan yn farw yn y fan a'r lle, er gwaethaf ymdrechion y gwasanaethau brys. Mewn ymddangosiad byr dros ddolen fideo ni ddywedodd Martin Ward unrhyw beth.
‘Careful’ triggers an avalanche of oddities
Originally shot on 16mm, Guy Maddin’s 1992 film “Careful” looks beautiful in its new 4K restoration. (Kino Lorber) If everybody in Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin’s 1992 film “Careful” seems to softly whisper their lines, it’s with good reason. The movie is set in an Alpine town at the base of a mountain known for avalanches, and all the townspeople must keep their emotions in check at all times, lest an outburst triggers a deadly cascade of snow and rocks.
What Rob Thomas (Still) Can’t Live Without
16 items in this article 3 items on sale! 16 items in this article 3 items on sale! If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what everyday stuff famous people add to their carts — like mascara or a sleep mask. We first asked musician Rob Thomas about the things he can’t live without back in 2022.
What Rob Thomas (Still) Can’t Live Without
Now Counterfeits of luxury goods are a major problem for fashion houses. Counterfeiters are getting better at replicating brands’ marks and passing off dupes, known as “superfakes,” as genuine items. A startup called Veritas wants to tackle the problem with its own chip that verifies goods. Veritas was …
Helter Skelter, by O.R.k.
supported by Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Purchasable with gift card Download available in 24-bit/48kHz. Following the warm reception of their 2025 album Firehose of Falsehoods, O.R.k. toured Europe and the U.K. for an extended period.
‘World Without Cows’ ruminates on ruminants
Filmmakers talk about their globetrotting documentary Michelle Michael films cows from the back of a truck for her documentary “World Without Cows.” (Photo provided) Brandon Whitworth thought he was in trouble. “World Without Cows,” the documentary he made with his creative partner Michelle Michael, had been accepted to a small film festival in southern California. The bookers enthusiastically told him that the film had been scheduled as part of a slate of films promoting veganism.
‘The Last First: Winter K2’ is peak documentary filmmaking
Riveting film documents a troubled climbing expedition “The Last First: Winter K2” is not your typical thrilling mountain climbing documentary. (Apple Original Films) As much as I’m drawn to climbing documentaries like “Free Solo,” “Meru” or “The Alpinist,” it’s not because I’ve ever wanted to find myself dangling on the side of an 8,000-foot peak. Despite the incredible cinematography and charismatic why-are-they-doing-this characters, there’s no wish fulfillment whatsoever here.
How ‘Edie Arnold is a Loser’ became a winner
A scrappy indie comedy hits the road instead of hitting Netflix Adi Madden Cabrera plays the title character in “Edie Arnold is a Loser.” (Infigo Films) ”Edie Arnold is a Loser” is a fun, scrappy indie comedy about a group of Catholic schoolgirls who surreptitiously start a punk rock band. So it’s fitting that the filmmakers would embrace the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and take their movie on a “roadshow” tour of indie theaters across the United States. Maybe they embraced it a little too tightly.
‘The History of Concrete’ cements John Wilson’s reputation
Offbeat filmmaker muses about the ground beneath our feet John Wilson has made an extraordinary film about some ordinary materials in “The History of Concrete.” (Magnolia Films) People say that John Wilson’s documentaries have lots of tangents, but “tangent” implies that there ever was a main road to wander away from.
From 999 fears to failed payments - life in UK's phone signal 'blackspots'
Trudi King-Gunn works in a village with virtually no mobile phone signal. She and the village's residents rely mostly on Wi-Fi and landlines to stay connected, but in a power cut that becomes problematic. "The concern is when we need to call the emergency services," said Trudi. Most areas of the UK now have access to 4G and 5G signal, but in some places the lack of it can cause serious disruption to people's lives. Analysis by the consumer organisation Which?
Building Trust Into the Next Generation of AI Agents
Today, NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform, an open software platform and reference system design to strengthen AI security from agent testing to deployment, helping organizations secure and govern AI agents as they take on more autonomous work.
‘The Stunt Driver’ takes a leap of faith
Can you make a mockumentary out of events that really happened? Michael Dowse’ film “The Stunt Driver,” looks like a well-made parody of those Evel Knievel documentaries that used to be on the big screen in the ‘70s, following a daredevil as he prepares for his biggest and most ill-advised stunt yet.
Building Trust Into the Next Generation of AI Agents
Building Trust Into the Next Generation of AI Agents By Rob Thomas | Senior Vice President, IBM Software and Chief Commercial Officer September 28, 2026 Today, NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform, an open software platform and reference system design to strengthen AI security from agent testing to deployment, helping organizations secure and govern AI agents as they take on more autonomous work.
‘Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” dances to its own beat
Grief manifests itself in many forms. For Haru, it’s a giant black parakeet mascot, like Big Bird’s more disturbing cousin. That bird is just one of the oddball touches in “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” (the title is another oddball touch), a quirky and heartfelt film by writer-director Josef Kubota Wladyka about a grieving widow trying to get her groove back on the dance floor and in the world.
‘You Had To Be There’ has front-row seats to a comedy revolution
Among comedy nerds, the 1972 Toronto production of “Godspell” is talking about in hushed tones as nothing less than the wellspring of modern comedy. Many members of that 10-person cast, including Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner and Paul Shaffer, would go on to change comedy through Second City and “Saturday Night Live” and “SCTV,” and then through the next generations of comedians inspired by them. But back in 1972, they weren’t comedy pioneers.
‘Ask E. Jean’ profiles the woman who beat Trump. Twice.
Even if she had never crossed paths with Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll was worth making a documentary about. In “Ask E. Jean,” we meet a smart, sharp, unfiltered woman who rode the wave of magazine journalism’s heyday in the ‘70s into the Wild West of early cable news in the ‘80s. Maybe it’s because I’m a journalist, but I find this era fascinating, and Carroll was at the epicenter of it.
‘Heart of the Beast’ is a touching film about a Brad and his dog
Because I know it’s what everybody really cares about, I will spoil at the end of this review whether the dog in “Heart of the Beast” lives or not. I’m being more discreet than the movie itself, which tells you the fate of Odin the German shepherd in the very first frame of the movie. Which is fair, because the dog lovers in the audience don’t want to spend the entire movie worrying whether Odin will make it home after a harrowing adventure or not. Brad Pitt, we can take or leave.
‘Forgotten Island’ is an animated classic to remember
“Forgotten Island” feels like somebody took a familiar but poignant story about the power of friendship and poured a four-pack of energy drinks all over it. Writer-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (who made the underrated “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”) have seen the rise of energetic, chaotic, colorful animated films like the “Spider-Verse” movies.
What if Alexander Payne made ‘GTA 6’ ?
He may look like a real actor at first, but this is a motion-captured performance similar to what’s used in modern video games. (Visit Films) For the first few frames of “The Misconceived,” your brain may be fooled into thinking it’s watching a typically talkie, character-driven, low-budget indie film.
‘The Weight’ sets the gold standard for adventure movies
Ethan Hawke may be in over his head in the Depression-era action-adventure “The Weight.” (Vertical Entertainment) “The Weight” is the perfect name for Padraic McKinley’s period thriller, because star Ethan Hawke looks like he’s carrying every ounce of it. Few actors can successfully convey the burden that their characters carry – physical, emotional, spiritual – the way Hawke can, his brow furrowed and his blue eyes haunted.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Sept. 14, 2026
My birthday is long behind me, but there’s still time to get me a present. Today is the last day of my 30% off birthday sale! That’s less than three bucks a month to support my work at Not That Rob Thomas. Use this special link to get the deal! And thanks! Not that Rob Thomas is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
‘Serpent’s Path’ follows a twisted tale of revenge
Damien Bonnard and Ko Shibasaki play a patient and his therapist on a crytic mission of revenge. (KimStim) If you want a little pick-me-up after watching a bleak movie like “Serpent’s Path,” why not consider becoming a paid subscriber to Not That Rob Thomas? There’s just a few days left in my birthday subscription sale, where you can get 30% off an annual subscription. I’d really appreciate your support! We need a new name for the kinds of movies Kiyoshi Kurosawa makes.
‘Runner’ stumbles in reviving the buddy action movie
The parakeet doesn’t get enough screen time in “Runner,” for my liking. (Angel Studios) If you appreciate me suffering through a movie like “Runner,” why not consider becoming a paid subscriber to Not That Rob Thomas? There’s less than a week left in my birthday subscription sale, where you can get 30% off an annual subscription.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Sept. 7, 2026
Another Monday, another round of streaming picks! Remembering that I’m in the midst of my birthday subscription sale, so you can get 30% off a one-year subscription and support my work! I’d really appreciate it! Teenage Wasteland (Netflix) – This inspiring and timely documentary looks back on a group of ‘90s high school students in a journalism class who turned their clunky camcorders on the toxic sludge in a nearby town, and found an ocean of corruption and negligence in their small town.
30% Off Birthday Sale!
Today, Sept. 3, is my birthday! And I am giving a present to you, in the form of a discount on a present that you can give to me. From now through Sept. 15, I’m offering 30% off an annual subscription to Not That Rob Thomas. At $35/year, that’s less than three bucks a month! If you’re a regular reader of Not That Rob Thomas, you know that I’ve chosen not to put any of my articles behind a paywall. Which means I’m relying entirely on the generosity of my readers to support the work I do.
A Farewell Love Letter to Local Television
By Paul Greeley Rob Thomas I’ve known Rob Thomas since he became the creative services director at KARK, Nexstar’s NBC affiliate in Little Rock. I was the VP of Marketing at Nexstar at the time, and I got to know Rob and his wife, Melody, and their family over the years.
‘The Sun Never Sets’ shines a light on messy love triangle
Dakota Fanning plays an Anchorage woman caught in a relationship crisis in “The Sun Never Sets.” (Independent Film Company) After a flurry of movies (“Drinking Buddies,” “Digging For Fire”) and TV shows (“Easy”) in the 2010s, as well as acting (“You’re Next”) and producing (“Little Sister”), writer-director Joe Swanberg seemed to take a long break from filmmaking. The time away did him good.
New Movies To Watch on Streaming: Sept. 1, 2026
A terrific new documentary looks at the life and work of poet Mary OIiver. (Kino Lorber) Sorry, I had an extra-early dental appointment on Monday, which got in the way of me posting my usual start-of-the-week streaming column. The good news is that it’s now September, and there is literally a flood of new and classic movies hitting streaming services today. Here’s a few of my faves. And, yes, I promise to keep flossing. Not that Rob Thomas is a reader-supported publication.
‘Idiots’ isn’t as dumb as it looks
There’s a lot of yelling and swearing in “Idiots.” (Independent Film Company) When “Idiots” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it was titled “The Shitheads.” Somewhere along the way, the title was changed, presumably because multiplex owners didn’t like the idea of seeing that title on the marquee next to “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie.” But I think the original title is a better fit for writer-director Macon Blair’s scuzzy, foul-mouthed and very funny comedy.
‘It Ends’ is like a Gen-Z ‘Twilight Zone’ episode
In “It Ends,” four passengers are stuck on a road that seems to have no beginning and no end. (NEON) “It Ends” begins with the same setup as a lot of horror movies. Four teenagers in a car at night turn off the main highway and onto a spooky road. And then . . . that’s pretty much it. No creepy cabin. No werewolves. No sinister hitchhiker with a hook for a hand. Just the four of them, driving . . . and driving, and driving, and driving.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Aug. 24, 2026
Michaela Coel is a forger who infiltrates the sanctuary of a reclusive artist (Ian McKellen) in “The Christophers.” (NEON) It just now strikes me, four weeks into writing this weekly column, that even though I’ve headlined it “New Movies to Watch on Streaming,” technically some of the movies I include aren’t new. This week’s batch includes a crime classic from the ‘90s and a dizzying musical biopic from 2000, for example.
'Tony' will revive your appetite for biopics
Dominic Sessa plays Anthony Bourdain when he was an arrogant, wayward teen in “Tony.” (A24) The thing about Anthony Bourdain is that, before he became Anthony Bourdain, nobody knew he was going to become Anthony Bourdain, the celebrated chef, author and TV personality. Most celebrity biopics have an air of inevitability about them, a certainty that everybody knew back in the day that the movie’s subject was going to rise from being a complete unknown and become one of the all-time greats.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Aug. 17, 2026
All Bob Odenkirk’s sheriff wants to do is enjoy a nice cup of coffee. But nothing is “Normal” in his little Minnesota town. (Magnolia Pictures) This is my third week using Mondays to highlight movies that have just come out on streaming services, and it’s gotten a great response so far. Hopefully, this will help you find something that you really want to watch, not just what’s at the top of your streaming service’s home page.
‘Our Hero, Balthazar’ is a disturbingly funny buddy comedy
An empathy influencer (Jaeden Martell) and a gun lover (Asa Butterfield) form a combustible bond in “Our Hero, Balthazar.” (Radial Studios) Imagine a lump of coal, covered in soy sauce, floating at the heart of a black hole. That gives you a sense of how dark the satire is in “Our Hero, Baltazar.” It’s a terrifyingly funny look into the wounded heart of a culture where misery is monetized and everybody is trying to scam everybody else – and delude themselves most of all.
'Nimrods' wants to give Green Day fans the time of their lives
“Nimrods” was supposedly inspired by Green Day’s own early days as a band. (Inaugural Entertainment) I’ll say this for Green Day. While other big musical acts have been releasing big, immersive IMAX 3D concert films in 2026 (Billie Eilish, Stray Kids), it’s on-brand for the veteran punk rock trio to lend their name to a scruffy, sweet indie comedy instead. Green Day gets a producer and a “story by” credit on “Nimrods,” which hints at both the movie’s main flaw and its saving grace.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Aug. 10, 2026
Andrew Scott plays a prickly meteorologist in “Pressure,” now on Peacock. (Focus Features) I’ve started to use Mondays to highlight movies that have just come out on streaming services. If you’ve ever spent more time scrolling through a home page rather than actually wanting something, I hope this will help. If you’ve seen something great that you think people ought to know about it, drop it in the comments! Not that Rob Thomas is a reader-supported publication.
'Cookie Queens' isn't all sugar and sweetness
Olive and her friend eat some of their inventory in “Cookie Queens.” (Roadside Attractions) If the documentary “Cookie Queens” were an actual Girl Scout cookie, it would probably be a Lemonade, those shortbread cookies covered in sweet lemon icing. They’re sweet, sweet, sweet, but with just enough of a tangy flavor to make it interesting, and set it apart from the Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Sandwiches.
‘One Night Only’ serves up a meet-cute in a dystopia
“One Night Only” does for pizza what “Lady and the Tramp” does for spaghetti. (Universal Pictures) I’ll say this much for “One Night Only” – you don’t see many rom-coms set in a Christofascist dystopia. But director Will Gluck’s movie makes a game effort to be a sexy, charming entertainment about two appealing characters falling in love in an alternate America where Big Brother is always watching, especially in the bedroom.
New Movies to Watch on Streaming: Aug. 3, 2026
Sophy Romvari’s semi-autobiographical “Blue Heron” is now on the Criterion Channel. I’ve been struggling to figure out what to post in my newsletters on Mondays, since it’s way too early to post a review of a movie coming out this Friday. So I’m going to try doing a column highlighting some movies that are new to streaming (or physical media). It seems like a good chance to highlight movies that might have whooshed in and out of theaters before you even knew they were there.
Spider-Man grows up in 'Brand New Day'
Sure, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) can fix his Spidey suit. But can he fix himself? (Sony/Marvel) Note: This review is spoiler free. I promise. I am not a Marvel hater. After “Avengers: Endgame” in 2018, I’ve pretty much taken each new Marvel movie as it came, liking some (“Deadpool vs. Wolverine,” “Thunderbolts”) and not others (“Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Captain America: Brave New World”).
Major bridge could close if staff get more abuse, motorists warned
Follow Major bridge could close if staff get more abuse, motorists warned Wed, July 29, 2026 at 6:34 PM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Further abuse towards staff during repairs on a busy bridge could lead to its closure, drivers have been warned.
Menai Bridge could close if staff get more abuse, motorists warned
World News 1 hour ago Man convicted in terrorism trial over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie Associated Press - By JENNIFER PELTZ • 1h A man was convicted Wednesday of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel “The Satanic Verses.” A jury found Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him, including engaging in an act of transnational … England 5 hours ago Pictures show scale of drought...
'I Want Your Sex' is a spanking good time
Don’t run with scissors, Olivia Wilde. (Magnolia Pictures) “I Want Your Sex” begins with Cooper Hoffman saying the f-word six times in a row, and ends with a blooper reel over the closing credits. Together, those two extremes capture the playful, raunchy vibe of Gregg Araki’s latest provocation, a brightly-colored, foul-mouthed and cheekily transgressive sex comedy.
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