Thank You for Smoking (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

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:

Tobacco | Lobbyist | Spin | Reporter | Gun

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	11:00 PM	USA
Thur. Nov. 19	11:00 AM	USA

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 Del Spina	...	Kid #4 (as Jordan Orr)
Maria Bello	...	Polly Bailey
David Koechner	...	Bobby Jay Bliss

Also Known As:

Gracias por fumar (Argentina) (Spain) (Venezuela) [es]
Merci de fumer (Canada: French title) [fr]
Multumim ca fumati! (Romania) [ro]
Obrigado por Fumar (Brazil) [pt]
Thank You for Smoking (Germany) [de]
Thank You for Smoking (France) [fr]
Thank You for Smoking (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:92 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Room 9 Entertainment

Trivia:

When Nick mentions how smoking was affected by the development of motion pictures, he briefly refers to a scene between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The scene is from the movie To Have and Have Not (1944).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Polly is arguing with Nick about cigarettes and alcohol, in one shot her hair is tucked behind her ear. Then in the next shot her hair is covering her ear. Then in the last shots of her, Polly's hair is tucked back behind her ear.

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:

Features "The Blue Planet" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Two Beat or Not Two Beat

Very funny edu-tainment that doesn't take sides

I saw this movie at a screening in DC last night. It was great. Aaron Eckhart, the single leading man with the WORST haircut in Hollywood (full disclosure - I'm damn near bald) matches very well with the direction of Reitman. From the get-go, it's a fast-paced send-up of everyone and everything in the tobacco war. The entire cast does a good job (w/ the exception, maybe, of Katie Holmes). Rob Lowe is hysterical in his cameo, but I have to say Eckhart & his MOD squad buddies (Maria Bello & David Koechner) really light up the screen. Their scenes of discussing the dealing out of death through the industries they represent over drinks are a real strong point of the movie.

The fact that this movie doesn't take sides - and really, could be about any issue, because it's more about the MAN behind the spokesperson - but makes fun of all sides in the tobacco issue. The interaction b/w Nick Naylor (Eckhart) & the old Marlboro Man (Sam Elliot) is priceless, as is the back-and-forth between Naylor & Senator Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy) towards the end of the film -it's basically good actors doing what they do well - and it's very funny.

The movie's also a little bit touchy-feely, focusing for a bit on the relationship b/w Naylor & his son, Joey (Cameron Bright) - the kid's good & some of the lines written for him are priceless.

There was one odd, stupid thing - and my wife agrees w/ me on this, so I'm not just being a guy; there are 2 'sex' scenes w/ Eckhart & Katie Holmes, but zero nudity. Nada. Not even partial. We see them having sex in multiple places & positions, but they're almost completely clothed. It just took away from the credibility is all I'm trying to point out here - as I said, my wife actually made the comment before I did.

Bottom line, it's a great movie - well worth the price of admission. It's funny, it's entertaining & it moves, what more could you ask for?