Film 101 (Goal: 300) of 2024

Thank You for Smoking is a clever satire of American Government, the movie industry and the media, among other things. The film has a fantastic cast, including (but not limited to) Katie Holmes, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, J.K. Simmons. But the film is anchored by an excellent leading man performance from Aaron Eckhart (before The Dark Knight). More modern ensemble films have cameos for the sake of cameos, at the expensive of connective story. This however puts the narrative first, and it leads to better opportunities and performances when the casts members step in.

While Thank You for Smoking is witty and clever, the film begins with such explosive energy, in it's dialogue, it's editing and it's production that by the time the 2nd act really kicks in, and the drama begins to take shape, that the second half of the film feels like a completely different film all together. And while it's still well acted, directed, etc. it just does not maintain that energy that made the first half so vibrant. It's not so much that it feels like a film of two halves, but if you asked me to choose only half the film to watch for the rest of my life - I'm picking the first half, every single time.

A whole slew of wonderful actors (and Katie Holmes) get together to spit zingers and run circles around unprepared TV experts in this dark, sleazy satire about the "flexible morals" necessary to find work as a lobbyist.

Aaron Eckhart is the top of these dogs, a master manipulator hired by big tobacco to turn public opinion against kids with cancer and well-meaning legislature, and he's very good at the gig. Along for the ride are JK Simmons, Rob Lowe, David Koechner, Maria Bello and Robert Duvall, as a variety of increasingly seedy, but universally well-spoken, coworkers and acquaintances. The film rides its sweet spot for a good long while, watching the scumbags bounce around swanky offices or talk show sets, saying witty, misleading shit, but that kind of wicked entertainment can't last forever.

Eventually, Eckhart's man finds himself in a spot of trouble - several spots, in fact - with varying degrees of plot relevance. Chief among these is the personal development of his young, pre-teen son, who still sees dad as a god among men and seeks to emulate his every move. There's an interesting character conflict in that thread, the struggle between raising a well-adjusted young man and paying the piper for a high-expense lifestyle, and its resolution is bright, earnest and revealing. Other subplots, like a wacky assassination attempt or a smear piece in the local newspaper, are more shallow and distracting. Padding to stretch a film that's already rather short. Entertaining and amusing, this is a great chance for several of my favorite supporting actors to rub elbows and bang heads, but a hair on the thin, superficial side.