Desson Thomson
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| Alma mater | American University |
| OccupationTemplate:Pluralize from text | Journalist and speechwriter |
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Desson Patrick Thomson is an American journalist, film critic,[3] and former government speechwriter. He is known for his long tenure as a film critic for The Washington Post[4] and his later work as a speechwriter for the U.S. Department of State during the Obama administration.[5] He also served as the Director of Executive Communications for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the principal lobbying organization for the U.S. film industry.[6]
Early life and education
Thomson grew up in the United Kingdom. He graduated from American University in Washington, D.C., where he majored in communications and cinema studies.[7] His early interest in film and cultural criticism led him into a career in entertainment journalism.[8]
Career
Career at The Washington Post
Thomson joined The Washington Post in the 1980s, initially working as a copy aide before transitioning to film criticism.[9] He became a staff film critic in the Weekend and Style sections, a position he held for over two decades.[10]
Known for his vivid writing style and critical insight, Thomson wrote hundreds of reviews, features, and essays on cinema.[11]
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,[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
Work in Public Service
After leaving The Washington Post, Thomson transitioned into political communications.[10] He joined the U.S. Department of State during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, serving as a speechwriter.[15] He continued in this role under Secretary John Kerry, contributing to major policy addresses and public diplomacy initiatives.[16] His colleagues during this time included other former journalists, such as Glen Johnson and Douglas Frantz.[3]
Selected Work and Commentary
As a critic, Thomson was known for championing independent films and international cinema, while also engaging with popular Hollywood productions. His film reviews, essays, and cultural commentary appeared regularly in The Washington Post from the late 1980s through the mid-2000s.[17] 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.[4]
Thomson is also known for his reflections on cinema’s capacity to explore complex themes, as illustrated in his 2020 article "Set Your Phasers to Spiritual—A Movie Watchlist for Contemplating the Big Stuff, where he recommended films noted for their contemplative pacing and spiritual resonance.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]
References
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- ^ West, Michael J. (October 22, 2021). "Cairo Fred is many things, just don't try to categorize it". The Washington Post. p. 6. "Thomson is a political speechwriter and former film critic for the Washington Post. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "Desson P. Thomson, United States Public Records, 1970-2009. FamilySearch.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Romenesko, Jim (17 November 2003). "Film Critic Formerly Known as Howe explains name change". Poynter.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Desson Thomson Recommends ..." The Washington Post. 4 April 2004.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Farhi, Paul; Kenber, Billy (25 September 2013). "Time's Stengel latest in long line of reporters who jumped to jobs in Obama administration". The Washington Post.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Picture Lock Radio: Ep. 79- Thomas Debass, Ben Kendrick, & Desson Thomson". Picture Lock. 1 June 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Unger, Mike (15 February 2010). "Speechwriting as an Art, and a Job | American University Washington D.C." American University.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.O'Keefe, Ed (February 2, 2010). "Former Post film critic joins Obama administration". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thomson, Desson (5 August 2005). "Independents' Day". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Patrick (9 April 2008). "Desson Thomson: Gone". Washington Post.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cento, Salvatore (9 July 2024). "Why Critics Had Big Problems With the First Two Bad Boys Movies". MovieWeb.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."What the Academy Overlooked". The Washington Post. 17 February 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thomson, Desson (13 January 2006). "Feeding a film passion". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Film Capsules Capsule rev ..." The Washington Post. 16 April 2004.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.babrams (2020-06-17). "Cinematic Soul Food Movies Where Black Lives Do Matter". Motion Picture Association. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Post, DESSON THOMSON , The Washington. "Franken, applied liberally". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Simon, Scott (2008-09-13). "How To Create A Cult Movie". NPR. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Library News - LibraryOnline at Bradford College". library.bradfordcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Desson Thomson Coverfly". writers.coverfly.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Obituary information for Bradford Steven Heck". www.collinsfuneralhome.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.West, Michael J.; Sampson, Hannah; Russell, Edward; Dam, Andrew Van; Board, Editorial; Branigin, Anne; Jacobs, Shayna; Chery, Samantha; Spartos, Carla; Selk, Avi; Bogage, Jacob; Sotomayor, Marianna; Meyer, Theodoric; Marimow, Ann (19 October 2021). "After two decades, Cairo Fred starts to build a songbook". The Washington Post.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Guo, Anying; Chu, Hau; Kelly, Chris; West, Michael J.; Floyd, Thomas (21 October 2021). "The best things to do in the D.C. area the week of Oct. 21-27". The Washington Post.
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