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Thank you for Smoking is Fox Searchlights latest foray into the black arts of ironic truth selling. Based on Christopher Buckleys, this is a cutting look at todays culture of spin. While the film focuses on the tobacco industry there are messages there for just about any lobby group you care to think of.

Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) is chief spokesman for "Big Tobacco". He makes his living defending the rights of smokers and cigarette makers in today's hypocritically puritanical culture. 1200 people might die every day from tobacco-related illnesses, but Nick can successfully puts the case for cigarette smoking to anyone, even a 15-year-old dying of cancer.
Nick may be morally bankrupt as he defends the indefensible, but he is so adroit at what he does that, perversely, he’s a joy to behold as he ducks and weaves and somehow makes the most ridiculous argument sound persuasive. Things come undone for him however when he is outmanuvered by journalist Heather Holloway, (Katie Holmes).

A tight funny script, excellent pacing and wonderful performances makes this all up a great movie with an interesting message, and not the one I expected. I was all set for an antismoking rant, but what I was left with is a reminder that the things we do in life are largely our own decisions. Smoke, eat bad food, drive fast  – whatever your vice, in the end it was your decision and in the end only you will bear the consequences.

All of the cast, including Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, David Koechner, William H. Macy, J.K. Simmons, Robert Duvall & Rob Lowe do an outstanding job with Macy excelling as always and Rob Lowe cementing his typecasting as the Hollywood crazy.

Worth seeing at the cinemas, but if you miss it get the DVD.

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