'Smoking' fabulous

By Nick Norman

Nick Naylor thanks you for smoking. No, seriously. Your habit fuels his chauffeured Cadillac, his private jet trips and his insatiable lust for argumentation.

As the vice president of the Academy of Tobacco Studies, he strives to disprove -- or at least muddle -- any claim that cigarette smoking is evil.

In his world, it's healthy, it's trendy and, most importantly, it's lucrative.

Director Jason Reitman scores a grand slam with "Thank You for Smoking." He brings them all home: humor, morality, drama.

The screenplay's wit and craftsmanship actually convince the audience to both root for big tobacco and hate big tobacco in perfect step with the plot.

In short, Reitman is a puppet master of the most enjoyable kind.

Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) is the type of man who urges a classroom of children to try smoking for themselves. Bonus sleaze points: he does so on career day at his own son's class.

In fact, his son (Cameron Bright) pleads, "Please don't ruin my childhood."

Thereafter, Nick soon realizes his son lacks a proper father figure. But Nick -- constantly aware of his own slimy lifestyle -- cautiously chooses to educate his son on the merits of a free society.

How does Nick define freedom? As the ability to smoke one's self to death without fear of social stigma.

This theme of freedom runs throughout the film and forms the backbone of the political arc.

As the credits roll, one main question scrolls with them: If freedom defines our society, why should we attempt to prevent self-destructive behavior?

As Nick examines the answer to such a question, he relies on his fellow lobbyists. One promotes firearms, the other pushes alcohol.

In quasi-group therapy format, they sit around a table to eat, drink and meditate on their respective professions.

They argue over whose product kills the most people and who most needs personal bodyguards. They thrive on being hated -- it's what they do, after all.

When repeatedly berated for his too-malleable morals, Nick responds with "The yuppie Nuremberg defense: I've got a mortgage to pay."

This unaccountability eventually lands him naked in the lap of the Lincoln Memorial in a pseudo-Pieta position, begging the timeless question of when, and if, ends can justify means.

Some of the most amusing scenes come when Nick visits a ridiculous Hollywood producer (Rob Lowe). Enthroned in a shining citadel of celluloid, the Lowe's character pokes fun at California hipsters in general.

For Californian viewers, it's great fun to be the subject of warm ridicule, especially when it's done this accurately.

The fast-talking producer strives to promote cigarette smoking in big-budget films. His solution: get cigarettes out of the hands of "RAV's: Russians, Arabs and villains." Put them in the hands of the hero.

Ironically, you won't see any actual cigarette smoking, despite numerous allusions to the habit made by "smoker" characters.

"Thank You for Smoking" is a morality play of the most astute kind, not sell-out entertainment.

Grade: A+

Contact Nick Norman at (408) 551-1918 or npnorman@scu.edu.