What do you call a person who campaigns for questionable causes? Normally a lobbyist, but in the film Thank You for Smoking this person is Nick Naylor (Eckhart). Naylor is a lobbyist for Big Tobacco: he's good looking, charismatic, and can talk circles around the competition. The opening scene of the film explains him: he is a guest on a talk show, while the other guests are greeted with applause, he is practically booed off the stage. A teen boy (who is bald) dying of cancer is seated next to Naylor, who not only manages to win over the audience he also redirects the blame. And although you personally may disagree with his stance on tobacco, you cannot help but cheer for Naylor.
He says "My job requires a certain...moral flexibility" so when he is not working he spends time with others who share his burden. They call themselves the Merchants of Death (MOD): Polly (Bello) for alcohol and Bobby Jay (Koechner) for firearms, and spend their evenings discussing what kills the most people. His moralities are tested when he is sent (by the company) to pay-off Lorne (Elliott) a former Marlboro man to stop bad-mouthing tobacco. Naylor gives Lorne a sizeable amount of money and explains to him what to do with the money.
Opposing Naylor is Senator Finistirre (Macy) from Vermont who proudly displays his various bottles of maple syrup and wants to put a skull and crossbones on cigarette packaging. Also blocking Naylor's success is Heather (Holmes...horrible, such alliteration) the reporter writing about Naylor. They begin seeing each other and she learns more about the tobacco industry than she should.
This film makes you think...none of the characters ever actually smoke (although a few do hold cigarettes), instead focusing on lobbyists, advertising, and people who "spin" stories. It is a witty, thoughtful satire, going to the heart of the matter instead of focusing on gross-out humor or minor story-lines that don't work. The hits keep coming, although the ending is a cop-out, and the characters were well chosen (apparently Reitman, the director, wrote letters to all the cast members explaining why they would be perfect for the part he wanted them for...and they all agreed). Check out excellent performances all-around, but especially Eckhart...wow!
Dude, it's quotable: it may not always be appropriate, but there are some good one-liners
Rent it once: it's a worth-while film, just be aware that there are a few sex scenes (its unnecessary, but not completely overdone) and some foul language, but overall I recommend this film!
He says "My job requires a certain...moral flexibility" so when he is not working he spends time with others who share his burden. They call themselves the Merchants of Death (MOD): Polly (Bello) for alcohol and Bobby Jay (Koechner) for firearms, and spend their evenings discussing what kills the most people. His moralities are tested when he is sent (by the company) to pay-off Lorne (Elliott) a former Marlboro man to stop bad-mouthing tobacco. Naylor gives Lorne a sizeable amount of money and explains to him what to do with the money.
Opposing Naylor is Senator Finistirre (Macy) from Vermont who proudly displays his various bottles of maple syrup and wants to put a skull and crossbones on cigarette packaging. Also blocking Naylor's success is Heather (Holmes...horrible, such alliteration) the reporter writing about Naylor. They begin seeing each other and she learns more about the tobacco industry than she should.
This film makes you think...none of the characters ever actually smoke (although a few do hold cigarettes), instead focusing on lobbyists, advertising, and people who "spin" stories. It is a witty, thoughtful satire, going to the heart of the matter instead of focusing on gross-out humor or minor story-lines that don't work. The hits keep coming, although the ending is a cop-out, and the characters were well chosen (apparently Reitman, the director, wrote letters to all the cast members explaining why they would be perfect for the part he wanted them for...and they all agreed). Check out excellent performances all-around, but especially Eckhart...wow!
Dude, it's quotable: it may not always be appropriate, but there are some good one-liners
Rent it once: it's a worth-while film, just be aware that there are a few sex scenes (its unnecessary, but not completely overdone) and some foul language, but overall I recommend this film!
Rating: R for language and sexual content
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor
William H. Macy as Senator Finistirre
Maria Bello as Polly Bailey
David Koechner as Bobby Jay Bliss
Katie Holmes as Heather Holloway
J.K. Simmons as BR
Sam Elliott as Lorne Lutch
Robert Duvall as Captain
Rob Lowe as Jeff Megall
Cameron Bright as Joey Naylor
1 comments:
Good and whitty take on that old favourite, the tabbaco industry. But an amusing character study as well. He is such a cocky so and so in the lead role!! Worth seeing for something completely different
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