Written by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes
Rating: [3.5/5]
In a societal structure where everyone has to work to make everything run, we need someone to pick up the trash amongst other positions for the greater good. Not many want to do it, but it serves the greater good. Just like someone needs to lobby for big tobacco for their interests which no one can argue actually comes from any other need but to continue to amass wealth, which this feature has plenty of fun in displaying. A witty and scathing satire, Thank You for Smoking knocks it out of the park.
A spokesperson for the completely legitimate Academy of Tobacco Studies, Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) lobbies on behalf of the tobacco industry to keep business interests aligned. He does this by making public appearances and advocating for an industry causing lung cancer in a disproportionate way, but he still manages to walk just enough circles to divert blame. It becomes a bit more complicated when he gets personally impacted by tobacco.
Lobbying exists as a foundation of our governmental framework that inherently serves as a good, but gets utilized to push and take away legislation that protects the majority for the sake of a minority. Something we have seen on many occasions and none other carried quite the force like the tobacco industry in the way they held politicians by the throat in daring them to pass legislation against them. Nick Naylor stands proudly as one of the faces advocating for this industry and the way he navigates through his position is quite hilarious and the absurdity of how he gets away with everything he says and does serves as the entire point of the feature.
His approach to debating anyone who dares speak ill of the tobacco industry comes from the simple approach of using strawman arguments, for as long as he can and placing individuals in hypocritical corners. He knows he has a losing argument when it comes to cigarette use and lung cancer, but if he can sow enough doubt against the argument on public forums then he continues to succeed in this job. He has no qualms about the morality of the job and, in fact, relishes the fun he has with it as seen with his weekly meetings with the Merchants of Death. That includes representatives from the alcohol and firearms industry. Together they serve as the trio representing three of the most controversial talking points in terms of substance abuse and possession. The way they all enjoy knowing how well they can divert the conversation from the obvious issues with what they represent serves as a cause for celebration amongst them on a weekly basis. Quite a disgusting thing to do but hilarious in how this feature presents it all.
Through Eckhart, this feature highlights the foundations of debate and the importance of how to construct arguments, even if they have little to no grounding within them. This smarmy performance by Aaron Eckhart well and truly breaks it down. Writer/director Jason Reitman exhibits quite succinctly as he displays how these figures laugh at our faces and politicians in the way they can continually dance around subjects for long enough that it leaves everyone exhausted and the industries can continue business as usual. Additionally, it looks at product placement and the subliminal messages these industries like to send by having what they sell ingrained into the culture. Specifically in this narrative, we have films where Nick tries to negotiate ways to have more cigarettes in movies even in instances where they make no sense. Creating a sense of normality in having Hollywood stars indulge in the practice as a tacit endorsement of the product as a whole does so much more than a hearing no one will ever watch. It’s all part of the game and Nick very much enjoyed playing it.
Such a slimy movie and performance given by Aaron Echart, Thank You for Smoking gets right at the root of these individuals who knowingly peddle harmful objects to the American people. They don’t have science or common decency on their side, but rather money from their industries, which does much more than any morality could grant them as a weapon against their detractors. Wholly irreverent in this approach, Jason Reitman makes his debut with quite the bang in crafting this deliriously fun film where you hate the protagonist but he remains utterly fascinating in discovering just how he can live with himself and do it with a smile.
Films with Josh 
