A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Thank You for Smoking

Date Viewed: 4/23/06

Details:

Aaron Eckhart

Maria Bello

Cameron Bright

Sam Elliott

Katie Holmes

David Koechner

Rob Lowe

William H. Macy

J.K. Simmons

Robert Duvall

Written and directed by: Jason Reitman

Score: +

The Review: A satire more informative than dark.

You didn't think they could make a satire about pushing cigarettes that is actually entertaining and interesting? The advertisements and trailers don't do this film justice. It's actually quite good and rather well-constructed -- it's also amusing, cynical, and occasionally thought-provoking.

Nick Naylor (Eckhart) is a flak for the tobacco industry, whose job is to spread a bit of doubt and deception to a potential market while maintaining a facade of openmindedness. This may involve visiting his son's (Bright) school for career day, or trying to convince the original Marlboro Man (Elliott) not to sue for his advanced lung cancer. Naylor shows style and wit, both of which he needs when attacked by Vermont senator Ortolan K. Finistirre (Macy), and when interviewed by a conniving reporter willing to do almost anything for a story (a very dark Holmes).

This satire wanders off into some odd and unpredictable directions, and the characters become a whole lot more interesting than you might expect. A subculture is exposed with the creation of the "Merchants of Death" (by Eckhart, Bello and Koechner), a trio of marketing/sales agents for alcohol, tobacco and firearms who meet for a covert weekly lunch to discuss their causes, successes and problems; the BATF irony is clever.

The cast offers a well-knit ensemble worth watching.

(27-May-06)

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