Thank You For Smoking

Thank you for Smoking



Christopher Nolan has said in interviews that the reason he chose Aaron Eckhart for the role of Harvey 'Two Face' Dent in the Dark Knight was his performance as Pro-smoking lobbyist Nick Naylor in 'Thank you for smoking'. Other than that reference, I don't think I would ever have heard of this film. Most likely, I wouldn't have picked it up anyway.

Who wants to watch a film about a self-assured devious character who spends his working life trying to convince teenagers to take up smoking?

Nick Naylor is the Vice President for the Academy of Tobacco studies; an 'independent' organization set up to investigate the effect of tobacco on people's health. The Academy is sponsored by all the major cigarette companies and, therefore, doesn't tend to badmouth smoking.
He is shot to fame and recognition during a televised debate with a senator's aide, in which he out thinks and manipulates him with his skilful zeal for arguing.

The senator from Vermont, Ortolan Finistirre (William H Macy) is backing a plan to have all cigarettes branded with the word poison and display a skull and cross bones. A plan Nick furiously opposes and is, subsequently, invited to have his say in court.

Nick spends his free time socialising with his friends, The MOD (merchants of death) squad. A group made up of lobbyists for guns and alcohol. They compete over whose product kills the most Americans each year.

Nick's questionable morals are in stark contrast with his caring parental side. He takes his loving son everywhere with him, whenever it's possible. Including on a business trip to LA where Nick is trying to get Brad Pitt to smoke in his next picture.

Ultimately Nick is undone by someone just as smart as himself, a cunning ambitious reporter, Heather Holloway (Katie Holmes) who'll do anything to dig up the dirt, including sleeping her way to the truth.
Heather's Expose ruins Nick's career, but when you have a talent for talking your way out of any given situation, she might have just picked on the wrong guy.

This film defies expectation altogether. It's a dialogue heavy movie, but never boring. You're left marvelling at the way Nick uses his words to outsmart all his opponents. Watch out for the scene where he convinces The Marlboro man (Sam Elliot) to take a bribe. Genius.

The film is heavily steeped in irony, turning heady social issues into laugh out loud funny jokes. The scene where the MOD squad get pissed at Nick because smoking kills more than Alcohol and guns is hilarious.

The supporting cast are great, with Robert Duvall and JK Simmons being just a few of the big names. But none of them can compete with the acting force that is Aaron Eckhart. He acts everyone else off the screen. With just the right amount of charm wrapped around his broken moral compass, Eckhart makes Nick a loveable and despicable character at the same time. You can see why he'd make a great Two Face.

Verdict 10/10
A witty, gritty political fable with one of the best characters in years.