Thank You for Smoking (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Jason Reitman

Writers (WGA):

Jason Reitman (screenplay)
Christopher Buckley (novel)

Release Date:

14 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

America is living in spin

Plot:

Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.

Plot Keywords:

Tobacco | Lobbyist | Spin | Reporter | Gun

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	11:00 PM	USA
Thur. Nov. 19	11:00 AM	USA

Cast

Joan Lunden	...	Herself
Eric Haberman	...	Robin Williger
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick Naylor
Mary Jo Smith	...	Sue Maclean
Todd Louiso	...	Ron Goode
Jeff Witzke	...	Kidnapper
J.K. Simmons	...	BR
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Teacher
Cameron Bright	...	Joey Naylor
Alex Diaz	...	Kid #1
Jordan Garrett	...	Kid #2
Courtney Taylor Burness	...	Kid #3 (as Courtney Burness)
Jordan Del Spina	...	Kid #4 (as Jordan Orr)
Maria Bello	...	Polly Bailey
David Koechner	...	Bobby Jay Bliss

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:92 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | UK:15 | Canada:14A | USA:R (certificate #42076) | Finland:K-11 | Norway:7 | Brazil:12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:7 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Iceland:7 | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:(Banned) (theatrical) | Malaysia:U (DVD) | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Room 9 Entertainment

Trivia:

No one is shown smoking a cigarette throughout the entire movie. In fact, except in the black and white film that Naylor watches, no-one is seen even holding a cigarette. Naylor holds an empty packet and Robert Duvall holds an (unlit) cigar.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Near the end of the movie when tobacco settles with the people of America by paying $256 billion, the courtroom-type picture shown on the screen is actually from the criminal trial of Larry Nevers and Walter Budzyn, Detroit police officers accused of negligence in the death of a citizen in 1992.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joan Lunden: Robin Williger. He is a 15 year old freshman from Racine, Wisconsin. He enjoys studying history; he's on the debate team. Robin's future looked very, very bright. But recently he was diagnosed with cancer, a very tough kind of cancer. Robin tells me he has quit smoking, though, and he no longer thinks that cigarettes are "cool."

Movie Connections:

References Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Soundtrack:

Smoother Than Jazz

Entertaining and Honest...

Just saw this as it premiered in Toronto - awesome cast, very funny dialog, and more than skin deep. First time director does a nice job - and the opening credits are noteworthy. RECOMMENDED. Pokes fun at the smoking industry (and lobbyists), but at others as well, and its hard to disagree with the sharp satire. Rob Lowe's small role is priceless, the casting was perfect across the board. Nick Naylor's (Eckart) relationship with his son is center and keeps some genuine qualities through all the laughs. My friend and I both rated this near the top or at the top of the 7 films we saw in Toronto last weekend. Not sure what its distribution / release schedule is yet, as there was still some debate over who had actually purchased the rights to it. Eckart in person came across as very genuine and is also in another great upcoming movie - Neverwas.