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'Thank You for Smoking' is a breath of fresh air
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abe
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Mar 18, 2006, 05:01 AM
 
I think we'll be hearing a lot about this film.

http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/thankyouforsmoking/
Aaron Eckhart, right, plays a charming tobacco lobbyist in Thank You for Smoking. Here, he warms up to a cancer patient on TV.

'Thank You for Smoking' is a breath of fresh air
By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

The razor-sharp satire Thank You for Smoking is the wittiest dark comedy of the year thus far. It has appeal to all sides of the political spectrum.


Fox Searchlight Productions
Based on Christopher Buckley's winning novel about the wily world of lobbyists, the film stars Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor, who represents the tobacco industry. The handsome but morally questionable Naylor is prodigiously skilled in the art of rhetoric and persuasion.

About the movie
Thank You for Smoking
* * * 1/2 (out of four)
Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Mario Bello, Katie Holmes, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe
Director: Jason Reitman
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Rated: R for language, some sexual content
Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Opens Friday in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

So capable a spin doctor is he that he rattles a smooth-tongued Vermont senator, played with verve by William H. Macy. The Democratic senator wants to add a picture of a skull and crossbones as an additional warning on cigarette packs. Eckhart's Naylor manages to turn the tables on the politician and expose his hypocrisies. While on a television show with a host of no-smoking advocates and a boy stricken with cancer, Naylor spins things in such a way that it appears that an anti-smoking crusader wants the boy dead.

Thank You for Smoking is even-handed in its skewering, taking aim squarely at our culture of political correctness and obsessive spin control. The scathing sarcasm and fast-paced dialogue, written by director Jason Reitman, is so clever that the movie warrants a second viewing for the zippy one-liners as well as the details. Tonally, it is reminiscent of Alexander Payne's Election.

Lobbyist Naylor travels to Hollywood in his quest to make smoking sexy again. There, he meets his Left Coast match in the kimono-wearing Rob Lowe as the quintessential slick agent more concerned with feng shui than facts. The scenes with Lowe and Eckhart are priceless, and Lowe's assistant (Adam Brody) is also hilarious.

Eckhart gives a standout, whip-smart performance, keeping his character likable even in his cynicism. That appeal comes across in his efforts to educate his young son (Cameron Bright) in the ways of the real world. Naylor meets regularly with a pair of similarly merciless cohorts who call themselves the MOD (Merchants of Death) Squad. Maria Bello represents alcohol manufacturers, and David Koechner is the chief firearms lobbyist.

Katie Holmes capably plays a conniving reporter who may be as unscrupulous as Naylor. Robert Duvall is excellent, as always, as a tobacco chieftain nicknamed "The Captain," who mentors Naylor.

The movie loses steam when Naylor is hospitalized, but it quickly picks up again as he faces off against the nation's politicians at a congressional hearing.

ThankYou for Smoking is that quirky and intelligent rarity that elicits wry smiles and hearty laughs alike.

Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...-smoking_x.htm
     
Apfhex
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Mar 18, 2006, 05:47 AM
 
Yes, this movie looks interesting. Apple's Trailers site says it opens March 17th (yesterday) but I guess it's only playing in select cities... is it going to be playing nationwide soon?
Mac OS X 10.5.0, Mac Pro 2.66GHz/2 GB RAM/X1900 XT, 23" ACD
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abe  (op)
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Mar 18, 2006, 06:12 AM
 
Originally Posted by Apfhex
Yes, this movie looks interesting. Apple's Trailers site says it opens March 17th (yesterday) but I guess it's only playing in select cities... is it going to be playing nationwide soon?

I got this from the film's website (The top link in my o.p.)

All Screenings


Promotional screenings are on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed seating. No purchase necessary. Seating is limited to theater capacity.

Tuesday, Mar 21 7:00 PM Landmark Kendall Sq., Cambridge RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 21 7:30 PM Embarcadero Cinema, San Francisco RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:00 PM Lloyd Center Cinemas, Portland RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:00 PM Harkins Arizona Mills, Tempe RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:30 PM Landmark Magnolia, Dallas RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:30 PM Chez Artiste, Denver RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:30 PM AMC Phipps Plaza, Atlanta RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 22 7:30 PM AMC Owings Mills, Baltimore RSVP
Thursday, Mar 23 7:00 PM Yonge & Eglinton, Toronto RSVP
Thursday, Mar 23 7:00 PM Cinemark Tinseltown, Vancouver RSVP
Thursday, Mar 23 7:00 PM Cinema City, Hartford RSVP
Thursday, Mar 23 7:30 PM Landmark Main Art, Royal Oak RSVP
Thursday, Mar 23 7:30 PM Angelika Theatre, Houston RSVP
Monday, Mar 27 7:30 PM Regal Brier Creek, Raleigh RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:00 PM Century Eastport Cinemas, Portland RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:00 PM Pacific Place Cinemas, Seattle RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:30 PM Landmark Midtown, Atlanta RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:30 PM Regal Arbor @ Great Hills, Austin RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:30 PM Edwards Marq*E, Houston RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:30 PM Landmark Main Art, Royal Oak RSVP
Tuesday, Mar 28 7:30 PM Century Stadium 14, Sacramento RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 29 7:00 PM Cinemark Tinseltown, Vancouver RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 29 7:30 PM Landmark Mayan, Denver RSVP
Wednesday, Mar 29 7:30 PM Landmark's Lagoon Theatre, Minneapolis RSVP
Thursday, Mar 30 7:30 PM Angelika Plano, Plano RSVP
Tuesday, Apr 04 7:30 PM Landmark Oriental, Milwaukee RSVP
Wednesday, Apr 05 7:00 PM Westhills, Calgary RSVP
Wednesday, Apr 05 7:30 PM Broadway Centre, Salt Lake City RSVP
Wednesday, Apr 05 7:30 PM AMC FORUM, Montreal RSVP
Wednesday, Apr 05 7:30 PM Cedar Lee Theatre, Cleveland RSVP
and there in another page was this:

RELEASE SCHEDULE

3/17/06

New York
Los Angeles
Washington D.C.

3/24/06

Boston
Chicago
San Francisco
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Phoenix
Toronto

3/31/06

Atlanta
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Detroit
Houston
San Diego
Seattle
Denver
Minneapolis
St. Louis
Austin
Portland
Hartford/New Haven
Ann Arbor
Vancouver

4/07/06

Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Buffalo
Cleveland
Columbus
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Orlando
Sacramento
Tampa/St. Pete
Baton Rouge
Birmingham
Charlotte
Louisville
Memphis
Milwaukee
New Orleans
Norfolk/Newport N.
Oklahoma City
Omaha
Providence
Richmond
Rochester
Salt Lake/Boise
San Antonio
Tulsa
Albany
Albuquerque
Boca/W. Palm Beach
Cincinnati
Colorado Springs
Dayton
Grand Rapids
Honolulu
Knoxville
Lexington
Madison
Nashville
Pittsburgh
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill
Sarasota
Syracuse
Tucson
Anchorage
Asheville
Charlottesville
Des Moines
Ft. Myers
Gainesville
Ithaca
Jacksonville
Lansing
Northampton
Santa Fe
Tallahassee
Calgary
Edmonton
Halifax
Montreal
Ottowa
Victoria
Winnipeg
     
wdlove
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Mar 18, 2006, 12:08 PM
 
A little humor helps. Just so that the message continues to get out.

"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." Winston Churchill
     
d4nth3m4n
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Mar 18, 2006, 02:47 PM
 
i love that my little town made that list. i'm really excited to see this one. :thumbsupbecauseWDdidn't:
     
abe  (op)
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Mar 18, 2006, 04:04 PM
 
Here you can see the Charlie Rose interview:

Segment 2: A conversation about the new film "Thank You For Smoking". Charlie talks to the author of the novel on which it's based, Christopher Buckley as well as the director Jason Reitman, actor Aaron Eckhart, and producer David Sacks.
(David Sacks of PayPal fame)

This Google video is free until tomorrow and then it will cost you a buck to watch.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...rlie_Rose&so=1
     
turtle777
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Mar 19, 2006, 01:00 AM
 
What's the reason for movies to start at different dates ?

-t
     
abe  (op)
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Mar 19, 2006, 02:32 AM
 
Originally Posted by what_the_heck
What's the reason for movies to start at different dates ?

-t
I believe it's a common practice when the distributors want to build word of mouth buzz and create a sense of momentum building from various directions at the same time.

Newspaper reviews from both coasts.

Also, it gives the principles an opportunity to show up at more than one special opening of the film. That gives the P.R. a chance to show photos from many Gala events on the web site and to place in newspapers according to which one would play the best. It enhances the luster and the perceived sensation of the film.

One more advantage, although I don't know that this group would suffer from lack of financing, but it helps to generate cash flow to pour into publicizing the film as it goes wider, and if audiences DON'T respond well in the limited release markets, the film can be pulled from distribution (unlikely because it must have tested well enough to get this far) or the marketing campaign can be re-tooled before they've committed to marketing materials by the thousands which must be thrown away because they found a better approach.
     
baw
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Mar 19, 2006, 02:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by what_the_heck
What's the reason for movies to start at different dates ?

-t
I've always hated that crap. Just release the damn movie everywhere.
     
turtle777
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Mar 19, 2006, 01:34 PM
 
Originally Posted by baw
I've always hated that crap. Just release the damn movie everywhere.
Yeah, that's what I think. Darn all these PR stunts. If the movie is good, it's gonna sell.

-t
     
gerbnl
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Mar 19, 2006, 02:39 PM
 
Originally Posted by baw
I've always hated that crap. Just release the damn movie everywhere.
That would require a *lot* of copies, which - apart from not being very environment friendly - would cost a shitload of monies, those things are expensive. If it's proves a very successful movie probably more copies will be made and put into circulation. Hopefully knowing it's not crap alleviates your hatred a bit...
These people are Americans. Don't expect anything meaningful or... uh... normalcy...
     
   
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