Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, David Koechner, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Cameron Bright, Kim Dickens, J.K. Simmons, Katie Holmes, Sam Elliott, Robert Duvall

Director: Jason Reitman

Summary: Set in the fascinating world of Washington spin, THANK YOU SMOKING sees Nick Naylor lobbying for the tobacco industry and his battle to represent the industry in a positive light.

Jason Reitman--the son of director-producer Ivan Reitman (STRIPES, GHOSTBUSTERS)--makes a strong impact with his debut feature film, the hysterical THANK YOU FOR SMOKING. Based on the wry novel by Christopher Buckley, the film is set in the fascinating world of Washington spin, where, more often than not, money trumps politics and morals. Aaron Eckhart (IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, ERIN BROCKOVICH) is outstanding as Nick Naylor, the public spokesman for Big Tobacco. The blonde pretty boy has no problem whatsoever going on television and telling people that smoking can actually be good for them. He meets regularly with the M.O.D. Squad--fellow Merchants of Death Polly Bailey (Maria Bello), who represents the alcohol business, and Bobby Jay Bliss (David Koechner), who defends the firearms industry--who squabble over who has the more difficult job based on the number of deaths their respective industries are responsible for. The smooth-talking Naylor's next big adversary is Vermont senator Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy), who is calling for the government to place a skull and crossbones and the word 'Poison' on all cigarette boxes. At the same time, Naylor is sent out to Hollywood to make a deal with high-powered agent Jeff Megall (Rob Lowe) to get more stars to smoke in movies, like in the good old days. All the while, Naylor is trying to establish a better relationship with his young son, Joey (Cameron Bright), without playing down his highly questionable job. The strong cast also includes Kim Dickens as Naylor's ex-wife, J.K. Simmons as his boss, Katie Holmes as an attractive reporter, Sam Elliott as the former Marlboro Man now dying of lung cancer, and Robert Duvall as the Captain, an old-time tobacco chief who takes Naylor under his wings. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING is a very funny satire that will leave audiences gasping for breath from laughing so hard.

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As one of the funniest films released in 2006, Thank You for Smoking works precisely because it shouldn’t. Its protagonist is Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), a smooth-talking spokesman for the American tobacco industry, and therefore one of the 21st Century’s most demonised men. From his gelled hair to his perfect teeth, he’s all slick and smarmy charm, though crucially, it’s his self-awareness that keeps him from degenerating into a completely amoral character. Naylor genuinely loves his teenaged son, Joey (Cameron Bright), and he’s determined to be a good role model. However, that’s not such an easy feat when the press and a US Senator are baying for your blood, and your own best friends are the self-styled M.O.D. (Merchants of Death) Squad (one is a gun lobbyist, the other does the same for alcohol).

Thank You for Smoking is a satire, but director / screenwriter Jason Reitman is clever enough to play it straight. And the supporting cast are, as a whole, superb, from William H Macy’s liberal, headline-grabbing Senator to Katie Holmes’s two-faced journalist. But it’s Eckhart’s performance as the charismatic Nick Naylor that is so convincing. By the end of the film, he manages to build sympathy not just for himself, but for the American tobacco industry--and that’s no mean feat for Hollywood, particularly as non-smoking laws mean that, throughout the entirety of Thank You for Smoking, nobody is seen smoking a cigarette. --Ted Kord

Aspect Ratio:	2.40 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Interactive menu
Subtitles:	English
Year:	2005
Release Date:	January 8, 2007
Runtime:	88 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	3222602000
Keywords:	For, You, Comedy, Smoking, Thank
Genre:	Comedy