Jason Reitman’s Film, ‘Thank You For Smoking’

A razor-sharp satire that is more pro-free will than anti-vice.
Jason Reitman’s Film, ‘Thank You For Smoking’
Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) as a lobbyist for the tobacco industry, in “Thank You For Smoking.” Fox Searchlight Pictures
Michael Clark
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 The debut feature from director Jason Reitman, “Thank You For Smoking,” is a blistering satire more reminiscent of the American New Wave than anything produced in this century. Given the hypersensitive PC world in which we now live, it’s unlikely this movie could even be made today.

Based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley (the son of William F. Buckley, Jr.), Mr. Reitman’s screenplay is less about the “danger” of legal “vices” (alcohol, tobacco, and firearms) than it is a commentary on free speech, free will, and the imposing of arbitrary morality from those who exhibit little or none of the same.

Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Author
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
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