Thank You for Smoking (2005)

Director:

Jason Reitman

Writers (WGA):

Jason Reitman (screenplay)
Christopher Buckley (novel)

Release Date:

14 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

America is living in spin

Plot:

Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.

Plot Keywords:

Satire | Koi Fish | Theatrical Agent | Hollywood Agent | Reporter

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Joan Lunden	...	Herself
Eric Haberman	...	Robin Williger
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick Naylor
Mary Jo Smith	...	Sue Maclean
Todd Louiso	...	Ron Goode
Jeff Witzke	...	Kidnapper
J.K. Simmons	...	BR
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Teacher
Cameron Bright	...	Joey Naylor
Alex Diaz	...	Kid #1
Jordan Garrett	...	Kid #2
Courtney Taylor Burness	...	Kid #3 (as Courtney Burness)
Jordan Orr	...	Kid #4
Maria Bello	...	Polly Bailey
David Koechner	...	Bobby Jay Bliss

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

Argentina:92 min | USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Canada:14A | Sweden:7 | USA:R (certificate #42076) | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Germany:12 | Iceland:7 | Malaysia:(Banned) (theatrical) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Norway:7 | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-11 | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Room 9 Entertainment

Trivia:

Selected for the Deauville American Film Festival 2006.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When B.R., Nick's boss, told him that the Captain wanted to see Nick, Nick replied "He saw the Jones' show?" In the opening of the movie, Nick appeared on the Joan Lunden show. If he was referring to that, he certainly wouldn't have phrased it "He saw the Jones' (or Joan's) show. This is possibly a reference to the Jenny Jones talk show, a totally different program.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joan Lunden: Robin Williger. He is a 15 year old freshman from Racine, Wisconsin. He enjoys studying history; he's on the debate team. Robin's future looked very, very bright. But recently he was diagnosed with cancer, a very tough kind of cancer. Robin tells me he has quit smoking, though, and he no longer thinks that cigarettes are "cool."

Movie Connections:

References To Have and Have Not (1944)

Soundtrack:

Smoother Than Jazz

"Thank You" for a good satire!

First of all, sorry for the cheesy title. I couldn't help myself. Second of all, "Thank You for Smoking" is, in fact, a darn good satire - one of the best I've seen since "Election". Aaron Eckhart holds the picture together with a witty, charismatic performance as a tobacco lobbyist. The film is basically about his profession as he spins the news, pitches a movie idea, dodges a subpoena, has an affair with a reporter (Katie Holmes), tries to spend time with his son (Cameron Bright), and has lunch with an alcohol lobbyist (Maria Bello) and a firearms rep (David Koechner) - where they literally compare body counts. The performances are excellent across the board, from William H. Macy's crusading Senator to Rob Lowe's smirking Hollywood agent who struts around his office in a kimono. Even Adam Brody is enjoyable as Lowe's hyperactive assistant whose in-joke with a co-worker earned one of the biggest laughs of the movie.

The majority of the credit, however, needs to go to first-time feature director Jason (son of Ivan) Reitman. Adapting from Christopher Buckley's novel, Reitman has fashioned an enormously clever script, consistent and strong in character, yet not forgetting to be incredibly funny. The style is also perfect - brisk, light-hearted, with impeccable timing marred only by a tangental subplot including Sam Elliott that is, sadly, not very funny. Overall, however, the pace is fast enough where the laughs keep coming.

Reitman also does the unthinkable: he keeps the satire dark and funny to the very end. While most comedies stray blindly into the sentimental, "Thank You" avoids unnecessary emotional tripe and - thankfully - avoids sermonizing about the dangers of smoking or of the flaws of the political process. Eckhart's flawless performance and Reitman's wonderful screenplay anchor an uncommonly perceptive comedy, provided you take yours black. If you need a little cream and sugar, "Fun with Dick and Jane" might still be at the dollar theater.