Director Jason Reitman has more often polished the public image of multinational corporations in his movies. If it is done for dramatic or comical effect or just for sponsoring, I dont know. Lots of movies get money from big multinationals, no problem there. But when you make a movie about the pros and cons of smoking, which has proven to be addictive and killing people by the thousands, then it is kinda weird to see a movie defending the tactics these cigarette companies use to sell these cigarettes. But in defense of this movie I would like to say that it is rather clever to learn how cigarette companies do their pr. Because when one learns how they sell this harmful product, you can protect yourself better against it, I hope...This is a very intelligent story. It is not so much a comedy, but rather a deliberatedly confusing story in which the cigarette companies get sold to the public as the good guys. And we are even explained how this rebranding of the cigarette companies into the good guys can be done most effectively. That's the real charm of this intelligent movie. It is not a really great comedy. There are some laughs though, because it is funny to see a cigarette lobbyist use the act of clubbing babyseals to death in his campaign to promote smoking. It is funny to see a cigarette lobbyist tell little children to think for themselves and not take for granted as the truth what their parents tell them. It is a rather sleezy, amusing movie about promoting lying and bribing. But it is really good at that. Watch "The Insider" with Al Pacino and Russel Crowe though if you wanna see a real classic thriller that does NOT glorify the big tobacco lobbyists.To summarize: dont watch this movie if you wanna see a straight comedy. The jokes are more intelligent or just obnoxious in a funny way. I would recommend this movie though to those who long to be confused and puzzled. Watch it if you like intelligent movies that make you think about the subject of the story: how to promote a product that kills.

"Thank you for Smoking" is the best social satire and downright controversial character study that no one is talking about. Eckhart leads a fantastic cast as a lobbyist for big tobacco as the film explores the ups and downs that come with the job. The screenplay features almost Sorkin like dialogue that is endlessly entertaining to watch be performed especially in the scenes with the "MOD squad" or "Merchants of Death"With Eckhart at career best, a fantastic screenplay, biting social satire and Sam Elliott in the role he was born to play this movie is a must see.

"Nick Naylor doesn't hide the truth... he filters it." God damn that is a catchy tagline."Thank You For Smoking" tells the story of Nick Naylor, a smooth-talking tobacco lobbyist. Naylor is a master of rhetoric, twisting language to make sure the people of America are smoking his company's cigarettes.note: mild spoilers followThe biggest flaw in this movie is the lack of development in its main character. At the end of the movie, Naylor isn't changed. He has undergone no apparent ethical awakening... but he's okay. For some reason, he gets a promotion outside the tobacco industry and has a better-paying, less morally objectionable job in which he can use the same talents he had as a lobbyist. This new job is the cherry on top of a character arc that makes no sense. The promotion feels undeserved, and it is an unneeded happy note to end a pretty dark film.Through Naylor, the film tells two contradictory stories. On one hand, the movie expects you to feel sympathetic that Naylor has such a terrible job. On the other, the movie argues that there is nothing wrong with Naylor's job at all, and he is an artist of rhetoric who deserves to be proud of his work.Throughout the movie, Naylor seems to apologize for his career achievements. He bemoans his choice in profession, saying that he didn't intend to be a lobbyist and he didn't study to be one. It was, in his words, "the only thing he was ever good at" and that's why he took the job. The viewer get the feeling that our tragic hero was fated into this situation. Throughout the film, he also repeatedly says that he only keeps his job so that he can pay his mortgage, almost implying that he'd leave it behind if he could.At the same time, the film argues that its hero's great tragedy isn't very bad at all. He often seems proud of his work, and there are a number of scenes that show Naylor teaching his son the tricks of rhetoric he uses. In these scenes, we get the sense that Naylor is clever and his job is something to be admired. Naylor appears to actively recruit his son to become a lobbyist, even though the movie spends so much time arguing lobbying is bad.In the climactic scene of the movie, during a court hearing, we expect Naylor to tell the truth and throw the tobacco companies under the bus. If he does this, his arc is complete. Even if this arc was a bit uneven throughout the movie, a sudden epiphany can save his character. But he doesn't have an epiphany- he sings the party line and walks out of the courtroom as pro-tobacco as ever. This is frustrating and confusing for the viewer.In the end, the viewer feels lost. What point was the movie trying to make? The movie was funny enough, and had solid acting, et cetera- but the story had no payoff and made no point. I can't recommend this movie because of its central flaw. Others may enjoy the ride, but I couldn't get over the vapid conclusion.

Thank You For Smoking. Some movies really fall into different territory all together. Just think of people who are playing the role of Merchants of Death like our hero Nick Naylor played by super Aaron Eckhart who is a lobbyist on behalf of companies who make billions by selling cigarettes and are root cause of 1200 deaths every day. Our hero just does not defend them, he makes sure no one thinks of them being bad people. Although he has facing a personal battle where he has to justify his stand to his growing son who is so fond of him. Directed by Jason Reitman of Juno and Up In The Air fame, this movie is a little cracker with delicious and witty one liners coming at rat a tat speed, characters which are so well defined and screenplay which as clean as water in mountains. I wish the war with senator was given more length as I felt that movie was over before its due time. I am going with fantastic 8 out of 10 for Thank You For Smoking. It is such a delicious comedy and drama with out of box idea that will keep you thinking for days