'Thank You For Smoking' goes straight for your lungs
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

The satire "Thank You For Smoking" merrily blows smoke rings around Big Tobacco's arrogance and obfuscation. Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), a Washington lobbyist for tobacco, sells cancer sticks like candy. He's the kind of shameless salesman who can appear on Joan Lunden's talk show and use a chemo-bald 15-year-old former smoker as an argument for puffing away. "You know that guy who can pick up any girl?" Nick preens in a voice-over. "I'm him on crack." Read the full review

TO SUM UP
As a spokesman for Big Tobacco, Nick Naylor makes his living defending the rights of smokers and cigarette makers. When confronted by health zealots and an opportunistic senator, Nick goes on a PR offensive to defend his industry, but begins to think about how his work makes him look in the eyes of his 12-year-old son.

FILM FACTS ...
Fox Searchlight Pictures
'Thank You For Smoking'

Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, Sam Elliott, William H. Macy, Adam Brody, Maria Bello
Run time: 92 minutes
Release date: March 17, 2006
Rating: R for language and some sexual content.
See showtimes

Meet the director
•  Director Jason Reitman tells the Palm Beach Post he was never a smoker.
•  The Austin American Statesman finds Reitman un-PC and unapologetic.

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
   Trailers require Quicktime

Rate 'Thank You For Smoking'
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READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: B
"A smart-aleck satire with something on its mind is always welcome."

Austin American-Statesman: 3 of 5 stars
"The movie's best moments are funny and provocative, but, while it's never less than entertaining, it doesn't consistently hit these high points."

The Palm Beach Post: A
"Thank You for Smoking is that increasingly rare commodity — an intelligent comedy — and a breezy, but sharp-edged civics lesson."


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