THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
US, 2005, 92 minutes, Colour.
Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright, Maria Bello, David Koechner, William H.Macy, Sam Elliott, Rob Lowe, Adam Brody, Robert Duvall, Kim Dickens, J.K.Simmons, Katie Holmes, Dennis Moore, Aaron Lustig.
Directed by Jason Reitman.
No, this is not a misprint. The tobacco industry does want to thank people for smoking and for keeping them in business. And, as filmgoers saw from The Insider some years ago, the industry has lobbyists sweet-talking politicians and the media to win legal battles. The Insider was a serious look at a whistleblower and the consequences concerning smoking and its harm to health.
This film is a comedy. It is a satire, based on a 1990s book by Christopher Buckley. It has been written and directed by Jason Reitman (son of director Ivan Reitman whose films include Ghostbusters, Twins and Kindergarten Cop).
The American sense of humour is not noted for its irony. Americans seem to be much more straightforward, less subtle, in their jokes. The British, on the other hand, and those whose humour derives more from Britain, enjoy irony and are skilled at political black humour. So, it is something of a surprise to find an American film that relishes its satire and ironies.
In trying to find some adjectives that would give an indication of how it worked, I came across the American Bishops Conference review which referred to it as ‘trenchant’ and to Sight and Sound which said ‘sprightly’. Those two words do it justice. Not that everyone will find it funny. Senses of humour are notoriously different. While it generally keeps a good balance, some will be put off by the language, especially of some of the off-putting executives.
The focus is on Aaron Eckhart, smoothly and genially efficient as a lobbyist for ‘the Academy of Tobacco’. His talent is for talk and for argument, massaging half-truths and untruths. He can charm a young cancer patient on a TV talk show by proving that the industry would not want the boy to die – they would like him to live and to keep smoking. All through the film, we are aghast at the politically incorrect utterances and laughing at how awful they sound. These statements niggle at what we truly think about smoking and its health hazards.
One of the other strengths of the film is the relationship between the lobbyist and his son – although that is treated in a tongue-in-cheek way because one can see how the son (Cameron Bright) is talented in debate, is in need of a father-figure and role model, and follows his father on his jobs. He could see through his father – or he could eventually become his father. This gives the film another moral edge.
The film is also populated by a large number of character actors who give witty star turns. Rob Lowe is outstanding as a Hollywood agent, full of ponderous cliches and mimicking the values-free stances on persuading Hollywood to include smoking more in the movies. Robert Duvall is the crusty old captain who made his money through tobacco. J.K.Simmons (the editor in the Spiderman films) is hilarious as the rough-mouthed boss, while William H. Macy is a harassed, but hardball Senator from Maine leading a campaign for cigarettes to be labelled as poison.
The film also takes shots at other lobbyists, especially with a group who meet each week to discuss their progress (and their death count). They call themselves MOD (Merchants of Death). Maria Bello represents alcohol and David Koechner the gun lobby. And they get a lot of the devastating lines.
In the last year, there have been a number of very hard-hitting documentaries surprisingly critical of American corporations and institutions, especially McDonalds?, Enron and Wal-Mart?. This film is in that tradition but opts for exaggeration through humour and satire.
1. The title, irony?
2. Audience stances on smoking, beliefs, pro-smoking, against?
3. The history of smoking, tobacco, legal issues, lobbyists, court cases?
4. The American tone of the film, the locations, Washington DC, Congress, California? The musical score?
5. The initial debate, the range of guests, the compere, the dying victim, the stances, moods, the audience? Nick and his taking control, the dying man and his supporting Nick? The repercussions, the company and the lobbying, his reputation?
6. Nick Molloy, Aaron Eckhart’s performance, his job, his voice-over, lobbyist, advocates, his relationship with his bosses, BR and his style, the visit to The Captain and his background, the meetings, endorsement of the campaigns?
7. Nick’s personal life, his relationship with his former wife, his relationship with Joey, pride in Joey? Joey, his age, loyal to his father, inheriting his father’s skills?
8. The trio, their meetings, the drinks, the discussions, their advocacy, alcohol, firearms, fast food? The characters, Bobby J Bliss, Polly Bailey? Their amoral stances? The campaigns, support of Nick? Their attitude towards his treatment of Joey? The reactions to Nick’s behaviour, sense of betrayal, but finally working with him?
9. The Senator from Vermont, his wanting tobacco and cigarettes to be labelled as poison, his campaign, the artwork, his assistant and his help, mistakes? Vermont and the promotion of cheese? The hearings? The television debate with Nick? Nick and the death threats? The final hearings – and it is comments on the dangers of cholesterol and cheese?
10. Nick kidnapped, the nicotine patches, the group taking him, his own health, not able to smoke? His return?
11. The placement idea, people smoking in the movies? BR and his hesitations? The other associates? The Captain and his approval? Nick going to California, the meetings with Jeff Megall, Rob Lowe and the parody of the Hollywood producer, the plans, the scenario, cigarettes and space…? The assistant? The atmosphere of Hollywood hucksterism?
12. Joey, his attitudes to the school, Nick wanting to take him to California, the pressure on his mother, her partner, his work at school? His skill in debates? The visits, his enjoying them? His supporting his father’s arguments?
13. Heather Holloway, in herself, reporter, the interviews with Nick, the sexual encounter, his confiding in her? The article, the information, the expose? Nick being fired?
14. The visit to Lorne Lutch, the Marlborough man, old and grizzled, dying of cancer, his antagonism towards Nick? Nick and his persuasion, the bag of money, the argument? Lutch taking the money?
15. Nick, sense of collapse, depression? Joey urging him on? Going again into action? Telling all, frankness, going to the hearings, his defence, human choice for adults - cigarettes or not, the jibe about cholesterol?
16. His freelancing, his own company, Heather, her comeuppance, television and the weather? Joey and his skills in debating? Nick a new career as a lobbyist – and the issue of cell phones?
17. The impact of the film and its time, well received, an interesting and entertaining way of looking at these moral issues?
