Thank You for Smoking
2005 · Directed by Jason Reitman
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
The story
Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy studio interiors in cool daylight, with boardrooms, talk-show sets and hotel bars lit like showrooms, and a restless handheld camera that jumps into conversations and snaps back out. The palette is clean and corporate, all polished wood, pale suits and sharp blue-white light, and the sound is a brisk, jokey score of quick pizzicato and bouncy strings that keeps the banter moving. Sharp, fast-talking dialogue carries most of the energy, with characters trading barbs at speed and the pacing bright and propulsive throughout. The vibe is sly, cynical and buoyant, a satire that stays wry rather than angry. It suits a lively evening watch, a sharp-witted comedy night, or a sceptical rewatch when you want something that skewers persuasion with a grin. Intensity is low: there is no gore or on-screen violence, the smoking and cancer talk is handled with irony, and the mild sexual content is brief and mostly verbal. It works for viewers who enjoy political and corporate satire, quick banter and a morally slippery protagonist who is easy to root for and hard to admire.
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