Released: 04/14/06

Viewed: 4:50pm 03/28/06

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright, Katie Holmes, Maria Bello, Adam Brody, Sam Elliot, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, J.K. Simmons, Robert Duvall

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Fox Searchlight Official Site of the movie

Day 23

There’s been a new wave of interrogations, stepped up after the release of Thank you For Smoking. The guards, during interrogation, have been using some of the ideas of debate and discussion from it. Sadly it seems they missed the big idea and took it all too literally… whatever. I can see why they liked it, but that they missed the point?

Smoking has a sort of universal appeal where it takes an idea that everyone can relate to, explains aspects of that idea in new and interesting way, making the viewer excited about understanding it. Not that they couldn’t or didn’t understand it before, but when someone relates the connection of cigarettes and second hand smoke to the connection of heart disease and cheddar cheese, it’s sticks with you. Because it’s clever. It’s funny. It’s “understanding� through cool. It’s “pointing out the obvious� and slapping a huge wrack on it. You always got it, now there’s a reason to make other people get it.

The beautiful thing is that this movie about spinning the truth uses the same exact technique to win over its audience. We sit comfortably and are lulled into a euphoric state as Smoking makes us feel smarter than we actually are, all the while the story being told to us is so cool, so hip, so flashy, that we completely miss the spin of filmmaking duping us into loving the movie.

Of course we wouldn’t otherwise. “Love it� that is. We wouldn’t love it without the fast-talking, fake smiling, monologued montages, not to mention cooler than cool supporting cast, convincing us that Thank You For Smoking is the best thing since smoking after sex. Is that the best thing? For some reason I get the feeling it is…

But that’s just how brilliantly layered the movie is. Using the idea of spin to spin a movie about spin into one of the best Satires existing on the planet – brilliant.

Aaron Eckhart stars as Nick Naylor, a representative for smoking. It’s his job to push forward the positives of smoking, and push back the… well… cancer. To push back cancer. Among other things. It’s his job to make sure that smoking stays cool.

And let’s face it, smoking is pretty damn cool. I’ve never been a smoker personally. I guess it hit me early that it wasn’t worth the health risks and I’ve avoided it, every now and then wishing I’d taken it up because it looks so cool. But according to Naylor I’m an uninformed loser.

If the idea of the dangers of smoking being a big political debate seems liked a dated argument, it’s because it is. Thank You for Smoking is adapted from the book written by Christopher Buckly in 1994. Even though the subject is behind the times the real theme of spin and character still hold true. You could toss these same characters and same ideas into themes of Alcohol, guns, disease, euthanasia, etc… Each one a serious subject that can be fit in to a sardonic spin. In that aspect the dated subject matter actually helps them because it let’s the audience move past the obvious and focus on the meat of the story.

I have issue with Eckhart. Mainly a little movie called The Core. My first reaction when seeing the trailer for Smoking was, “Eckhart? What, was Nick Cage busy?� But Eckhart sells it and becomes this likeable bastard that you can’t stay mad at, even if he is pushing death sticks on the world. He’s charming and quick, and slides with a smug gracefulness into the role of “the man every man wants to be and every woman wants to be with�. He’s too cool for school.

That doesn’t always hold up though. He opens the movie and definitely gets your attention but as they dart him off to meet the other characters, his presence bounces back and forth into the background. Reason being is that the supporting players take turns being awesome!

Nearly everyone that steps on screen steals the scene they’re in. Rob Lowe reminds us that he’s one of the best straight men in the business. J.K. Simmon’s hypnotizes you with cool talking a mile a minute saying things you completely disagree with, but can’t help but be enthralled by. And I loved the casting of Sam Elliot as the dying Marlborough Man. Completely bad ass.

The most difficultly good scenes are those between Maria Bello, Eckhart, and David Koechner as they steal the spotlight from each other debating which of their chosen defendants takes down more lives. Alcohol, Tobacco, or Firearms. Basically – don’t blink because nearly everyone that walks on screen will kick you in the stomach with funny.

Most of the buzz from this movie has been Tom Cruise related as reports have had him asking for love scenes between Eckhart and Katie Holmes to be removed or edited from the film. I’m not sure how much truth there is to that. There’s two loves scenes, far from sexy, but graphic enough. Sorry, no boobs guys. Go rent The Gift.

I think Holmes is funny though. She’s good in Smoking but not a stand out. I just like it that she’s only doing astounding movies now and playing forgettable characters in them. It’s cool though. I’ll take a beautiful Katie in Batman Begins over First Daughter any day.

As for the bigger controversy is concerned, smoking is no joke. I think people get that, and I think anyone that watches this movie will understand that it’s not what the movie is about. It’s different than that, but not so much so that the filmmakers are irresponsible enough not to address it. It’s a difficult line to walk but I don’t think Smoking went far enough to be considered disrespectful.

Rating: 8 out of 10

I loved it, but not completely. It was short, and I did feel like there were a couple of avenues left unexplored. Like Naylor being forced to quit smoking. That’s huge, but largely left undone. That lends itself to the quick pacing and dizzying story, which are simply spectacular so who am I to complain?

DVD worthy?:

Yeah, I’m going to pick this one up. Engaging story that’s entertaining and smart at the same time. It’s serious enough to inspire consideration and discussion on the situation, but not so heavy that it turns into a full on harsh debate. Because in the end it’s more about spin then it is about cigarettes. Everyone likes to be convincing.

If you liked this movie check out: S.F.W.

S.F.W. is a satirical look at celebrity in media. It’s less obvious and in your face than Smoking with a different sense of humor, but the message is similar. And it’s a strong message well developed Jefery Levy and his two young stars Stephen Dorff and Reese Witherspoon. Definitely worth checking out.

Non movie related stuff:

I used to mention my MySpace page every now and then, but haven’t really pushed it in a while. You guys still find me though witch is really cool. It’s always nice to pop into MySpace and see a bunch of new friend requests.

A couple of weeks ago, one person befriended Yeo in MySpace and thanked her for her support and influence on the strip. “Woman behind the man� and all that. She liked it but it freaked he rout a little, and that amused me a great deal. So in the interest of my amusement I urge you to befriend Yeo on Myspace. She’s a cutie isn’t she?

Finally I’ve got the comic for Benchwarmers up over at Clickwheel. Wish I could say I loved or hated the movie passionately, but it got little reaction out of me. I’ll have the review up soon. Thanks!