Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Thank You for Smoking
2005
**½
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright, J.K. Simmons, Katie Holmes, Maria Bello

Nick Naylor is an unscrupulous tobacco industry lobbyist who is good at his job but not very good at connecting with his son. This flawed satire on spin control has occasional bite, but it loses its nerve towards the end. It would also help if I could believe the following plot details: a) tobacco lobbyists are avid smokers, alcohol lobbyists are alcoholics, and arms lobbyists are gun nuts, b) people who smoke themselves to death blame the tobacco industry spokesperson, c) Naylor's son admires his dad no matter what he does. And why on earth doesn't anyone light up a cigarette in a film about smoking? Jason Reitman's debut is based on Christopher Buckley's novel.