JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Thank You For Smoking (2006)-Footage Included
Thank You For Smoking
Writer/Director:Jason Reitman
Novel by:Christopher Buckley
Starring:Aaron Eckhart, Sam Elliot, Maria Bello, William H Macy, JK Simmons, Todd Louiso, Robert Duvall, Rob Lowe, Katie Holmes, Dennis Miller
“People, what is going on out there? I look down this table, all I see are white flags. Our numbers are down all across the board. Teen smoking, our bread and butter, is falling like a shit from heaven! We don't sell Tic-Tacs for Christ's sake. We sell cigarettes. And they're cool and available and “aaaddictive”. The job is almost done for us!” – Budd (BR)
Driven by lies laced in truth and lyrical debates, Thank You For Smoking is all about the hypocrisy of free choice and the inconsistency of society and its governments in deciding what is good and bad for us.
“If I was to say to you vanilla is the best flavoured ice cream, you would say, no chocolate is. Exactly but you can’t win that argument.” - Nick
According to Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) smoking kills 1200 people a day. He should know he’s the figure head spokesman for the corporate tobacco giants.
“You know that guy that can pick up any girl. Well Im that guy on crack” – Nick
An expert at misdirection and a ninja at dodging his own conscience, Naylor is happy in the knowledge the modern world is ruled by big business and their greed, not concerned citizens and ideological politicians.
“That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.’ - Nick
Divorced, sharing custody on the weekends of his young son Joey, Naylor is beginning to feel the burden of parental responsibility. Realising that there are consequences to the cutthroat, double dealing world he lives.
“Right there, looking into Joey's eyes, it all came back in a rush. Why I do what I do. Defending the defenseless, protecting the disenfranchised corporations that have been abandoned by their very own consumers: the logger, the sweatshop foreman, the oil driller, the land mine developer, the baby seal poacher...” - Nick
Don’t expect simple solutions though, our hero is well aware of the duplicitous, double crossing nature of both Conservative and Liberal policy makers. No matter where you look the quest for profit and power is universal and none of it has anything to do with right and wrong.
“Polly works for the Moderation Council. A casual drinker by the age of 14, Polly quickly developed a tolerance usually reserved for Irish dockworkers. In our world, she's the woman that got the pope to endorse red wine.” - Nick
Never choosing sides, illustrating the manipulation and self serving nature of those that attempt to dictate what is acceptable for the people, this is intelligent comedy that has a point to make about the impossible quest for the truth within a corrupt system.
“Michael Jordan plays ball. Charles Manson kills people. I talk. Everyone has a talent” - Nick
John Doe Says:
Written by the son of political commentator Charles F Buckley and Directed by the son of Comedy legend Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Stripes) the source and its adaptation mine the material to the last scathing laugh.
Sticking to its point, no character at anytime smokes onscreen and misdirection is the order of the day. Directed with a knowing hand, the intelligent balance between humour and commentary is maintained throughout.
Wry, possibly a work of genius the screenplay maintains an air of truth. Never preaching, showing both sides of the coin and importantly entertaining while educating those unfamiliar with the way the game is played.
Actor Aaron Eckhart (Your Friends and Neighbours, The Pledge) has been one of my favourite actors since I first saw him in Neil Labute’s scathing debut, In The Company Of Men.
He excels in well written parts and here handles the verbal challenges with ease and makes a pirhana likeable. He gets my vote for best actor this year, although Forrest Whittaker in Last King of Scotland may give him a run.
JK Simmons (Spiderman, Oz) as Nicks blustering boss is perfectly cast. The ever reliable Robert Duvall (Colours, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather) as super rich owner of the company is at his low key best.
Sam Elliot (Big Lebowski, Rush) as the Marlboro man is inspired and William H Macy as an anti tobacco politician is also right on the nose.
Rob Lowe (Bad Influence, Masquerade, The Outsiders) is surprisingly effective as a Hollywood mogul and his self parody kept me giggling.
Katie Cruise (Go, Wonderboys) is a weak link but in the grand scheme of things doesn’t drag the film down.
Thank You For Smoking was John Doe’s #1 film of 2006 and with its combination of smiles and wisdom will be watched repeatedly for many years to come.
The DVD:
Transfer:Anamorphic Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras:I havent seen the stats for the Australian release but I got the US version on DVD a while back. It includes a Director and Cast commentary, Deleted Scenes, making of and interviews with the actors and crew. - Heres hoping the Oz release matches it.
Click below to view the trailer
Below, Nick Naylor tutors his son in the subversive art of Debate.
DVD Cover
Novel by:Christopher Buckley
“People, what is going on out there? I look down this table, all I see are white flags. Our numbers are down all across the board. Teen smoking, our bread and butter, is falling like a shit from heaven! We don't sell Tic-Tacs for Christ's sake. We sell cigarettes. And they're cool and available and “aaaddictive”. The job is almost done for us!” – Budd (BR)
Driven by lies laced in truth and lyrical debates, Thank You For Smoking is all about the hypocrisy of free choice and the inconsistency of society and its governments in deciding what is good and bad for us.
“If I was to say to you vanilla is the best flavoured ice cream, you would say, no chocolate is. Exactly but you can’t win that argument.” - Nick
According to Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) smoking kills 1200 people a day. He should know he’s the figure head spokesman for the corporate tobacco giants.
“You know that guy that can pick up any girl. Well Im that guy on crack” – Nick
An expert at misdirection and a ninja at dodging his own conscience, Naylor is happy in the knowledge the modern world is ruled by big business and their greed, not concerned citizens and ideological politicians.
“That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.’ - Nick
Divorced, sharing custody on the weekends of his young son Joey, Naylor is beginning to feel the burden of parental responsibility. Realising that there are consequences to the cutthroat, double dealing world he lives.
“Right there, looking into Joey's eyes, it all came back in a rush. Why I do what I do. Defending the defenseless, protecting the disenfranchised corporations that have been abandoned by their very own consumers: the logger, the sweatshop foreman, the oil driller, the land mine developer, the baby seal poacher...” - Nick
Don’t expect simple solutions though, our hero is well aware of the duplicitous, double crossing nature of both Conservative and Liberal policy makers. No matter where you look the quest for profit and power is universal and none of it has anything to do with right and wrong.
“Polly works for the Moderation Council. A casual drinker by the age of 14, Polly quickly developed a tolerance usually reserved for Irish dockworkers. In our world, she's the woman that got the pope to endorse red wine.” - Nick
Never choosing sides, illustrating the manipulation and self serving nature of those that attempt to dictate what is acceptable for the people, this is intelligent comedy that has a point to make about the impossible quest for the truth within a corrupt system.
“Michael Jordan plays ball. Charles Manson kills people. I talk. Everyone has a talent” - Nick
This war in Iraq has nothing to do with oil or profit, its about fighting for our freedom
John Doe Says:
Written by the son of political commentator Charles F Buckley and Directed by the son of Comedy legend Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Stripes) the source and its adaptation mine the material to the last scathing laugh.
Sticking to its point, no character at anytime smokes onscreen and misdirection is the order of the day. Directed with a knowing hand, the intelligent balance between humour and commentary is maintained throughout.
Wry, possibly a work of genius the screenplay maintains an air of truth. Never preaching, showing both sides of the coin and importantly entertaining while educating those unfamiliar with the way the game is played.
Actor Aaron Eckhart (Your Friends and Neighbours, The Pledge) has been one of my favourite actors since I first saw him in Neil Labute’s scathing debut, In The Company Of Men.
He excels in well written parts and here handles the verbal challenges with ease and makes a pirhana likeable. He gets my vote for best actor this year, although Forrest Whittaker in Last King of Scotland may give him a run.
JK Simmons (Spiderman, Oz) as Nicks blustering boss is perfectly cast. The ever reliable Robert Duvall (Colours, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather) as super rich owner of the company is at his low key best.
Sam Elliot (Big Lebowski, Rush) as the Marlboro man is inspired and William H Macy as an anti tobacco politician is also right on the nose.
Rob Lowe (Bad Influence, Masquerade, The Outsiders) is surprisingly effective as a Hollywood mogul and his self parody kept me giggling.
Katie Cruise (Go, Wonderboys) is a weak link but in the grand scheme of things doesn’t drag the film down.
Thank You For Smoking was John Doe’s #1 film of 2006 and with its combination of smiles and wisdom will be watched repeatedly for many years to come.
The DVD:
Transfer:Anamorphic Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras:I havent seen the stats for the Australian release but I got the US version on DVD a while back. It includes a Director and Cast commentary, Deleted Scenes, making of and interviews with the actors and crew. - Heres hoping the Oz release matches it.
Click below to view the trailer
Below, Nick Naylor tutors his son in the subversive art of Debate.
Celebrity Obsession
Film & TV on DVD
Released this week, your wait is over.
Please comeback and tell me what you think once its screened.
Film & TV on DVD
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD
The Daily Sonnet
Lots of Sonnets
Film & TV on DVD
I have been meaning to read some of Buckley Jnr and Snrs work but havent got around to it yet. (Now creeps slowly up my must-read list)
The DVD came out in Australia this week, as usual after the US.
Come back anytime.
Film & TV on DVD
The best you can hope out of actresses like Katie Holmes is that they dont drag the film down.
The Daily Sonnet
Lots of Sonnets
Film & TV on DVD
Philosophy Blog
Film & TV on DVD
The film does a great job of not choosing sides and goes out of its way to show the hypocrisy of the left and right.
I found it avoided the pitfall of being "preachy", but maybe my sensabilities just relish political incorrectness which is where the movie lives.
Maybe you would get a laugh out of the book Adrian?
Either way, glad you dropped by and fair enough this film isnt for everyone.
Movies and Life
Another great review as usual. This is one of the films that I meant to see at the cinema, but didn't get around to it. I definitely want to see it on DVD, thanks for the info.
Tracy
Film & TV on DVD
Fun Facts
Film & TV on DVD