Thank You For Smoking is a satirical black comedy following Nick Naylor, the chief spokesperson for the tobacco lobby in America. Throughout, Nick (played by Aaron Eckhart) has to deal with do-gooder politicians who want to inform people that smoking is bad for them, Heather Holloway (Katie Holmes), a reporter who’ll do anything to catch Nick out, an aging Marlboro Man fighting a losing battle with cancer and domestic terrorists who strongly oppose the tobacco industry. All the while trying to not be a completely terrible role model for his son Joey (Cameron Bright). As far as protagonists go Naylor is amazing, completely loathsome in almost ever regard, but charming enough for you to forget that you hate him. He even refers to his own claims that his job is just a way to pay the mortgage as the “Yuppie Nuremberg defense”. In his rare moments of clarity even Nick Naylor knows Nick Naylor is not a good guy.
This is the feature film debut of writer/director Jason Reitman. Being based on the novel of the same name by the great American satirist Christopher Buckley it was going to be hard for this movie to be completely dreadful. One major difference we see with the movie version is the switch to a first person narrative. This gives us a great insight into exactly what’s going on in Nick’s head and creates a greater familiarity with the character. All the time he’s working the crowd, getting them on his side he’s doing the same to audiences of the movie. His relationship with his son plays a greater part in the movie adaptation and it manages to add another level to Nick, a loving father who tries to do his best. Unfortunately the relationship seems to blossom out of nowhere. With Nick initially seeming to be an inattentive father and an embarrassment to his son. Then out of nowhere the relationship seems very close and very tender. You get the feeling something happened to change the nature of their relationship but you never really find out what. Ortolon Finnistere (William H. Macy) as a sort of nemesis to Naylor seems more like a caricature of nanny state-minded liberals rather than a well rounded character, the shots at him seem too easy.
As far as satire goes though Thank You For Smoking manages to be spot on most of the time. It takes shots at two different sides of an issue and never feels the need to patronise audiences.. It mostly avoids the easy route of just screaming “These are the bad guys, hate them!” Most of the humour is clever enough to make some viewers wonder when a character is being ridiculed and when they should actually be taken seriously. This movie on it’s own is a pretty good achievement and something those involved can be proud of. As far as a directorial debut goes it’s incredible. Hopefully this is the start of a great career.
This is the feature film debut of writer/director Jason Reitman. Being based on the novel of the same name by the great American satirist Christopher Buckley it was going to be hard for this movie to be completely dreadful. One major difference we see with the movie version is the switch to a first person narrative. This gives us a great insight into exactly what’s going on in Nick’s head and creates a greater familiarity with the character. All the time he’s working the crowd, getting them on his side he’s doing the same to audiences of the movie. His relationship with his son plays a greater part in the movie adaptation and it manages to add another level to Nick, a loving father who tries to do his best. Unfortunately the relationship seems to blossom out of nowhere. With Nick initially seeming to be an inattentive father and an embarrassment to his son. Then out of nowhere the relationship seems very close and very tender. You get the feeling something happened to change the nature of their relationship but you never really find out what. Ortolon Finnistere (William H. Macy) as a sort of nemesis to Naylor seems more like a caricature of nanny state-minded liberals rather than a well rounded character, the shots at him seem too easy.
As far as satire goes though Thank You For Smoking manages to be spot on most of the time. It takes shots at two different sides of an issue and never feels the need to patronise audiences.. It mostly avoids the easy route of just screaming “These are the bad guys, hate them!” Most of the humour is clever enough to make some viewers wonder when a character is being ridiculed and when they should actually be taken seriously. This movie on it’s own is a pretty good achievement and something those involved can be proud of. As far as a directorial debut goes it’s incredible. Hopefully this is the start of a great career.
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