Film Historian Links Movie Anti-Heroes to Trump

British writer and film historian David Thomson has released a provocative new book, "A Sudden Flicker of Light: A Revisionist History of Movies." Published recently, the work contends that the prevalence of anti-heroes on screen has had a detrimental impact on society.

Thomson, lauded as "the greatest living film historian" by the Los Angeles Times, posits that the glorification of characters like Tony Soprano and Walter White has subtly influenced real-world events. He controversially links this cinematic trend to the rise of Donald Trump and other global issues.

This latest publication follows Thomson's seminal "The New Biographical Dictionary of Film," first released in 1975 and updated multiple times. The dictionary is widely regarded as one of the most important film books ever written.

Thomson, 85, also discussed how a childhood stammer inspired his lifelong dedication to language and writing. He reflected on his early career, including the genesis of his celebrated dictionary and his personal pride in a trilogy of metafiction novels that blur the lines between fact and fiction.

His analysis now often explores cinema's impact on viewers, noting the increasing compelling nature of long-form television series. Thomson views these shows as modern cinematic epics, essential to understanding contemporary culture.