Movie review: ‘Thank You for Smoking’

FloridaGator80

One of the best movies to enjoy is one that is “little known” … you know, those that few caught on its release and the flick languished on the second page of box office money lists. Or, take the little-remembered efforts that no one recalls, even though they’ve seen it. Over the past decade or so, I’ve not paid as much attention to Hollywood for obvious reasons – lack of creativity resulting in idiotic remakes called “reboots;” a general spectrum of ignorance; and the nauseating political correctness of knee-jerk, dumbass entertainers. For myself, I hadn’t heard anything or remember seeing any of the marketing about “Thank You for Smoking” when it was released in early 2006 after making its debut at a film festival in Canada in the fall of 2005. Bad move. When I finally saw it on DVD, it instantly made my top 10 list of all-time favorite films. It’s a tour-de-force for Aaron Eckhart and simply a pleasure to watch. It not only is fun, but it has an intelligent story that is wonderfully written and better acted – with one exception.

‘Thank You for Smoking’
(2006; 92 minutes; rated R; directed by Jason Reitman and starring Aaron Eckhart, William H. Macy, David Koechner, Maria Bello and Cameron Bright)

HE CAN SELL ANYTHING … AND DOES!

(NOTE: I expanded this review, added links and corrected some misspellings on Sept. 24, 2015. I further reorganized and expanded it on Feb. 27, 2019. I again expanded it on March 20, 2025. I noted the passing of Robert Duvall on Feb. 15, 2026.)

From the very start, Aaron Eckhart is the Energizer Bunny in “Thank You for Smoking,” a film about modern public relations and product marketing framed through the main spokesperson who shills for the tobacco industry. If he isn’t coming out on top on a panel discussion which includes a teenage lung cancer victim to talking to his son’s school class to a quick verbal destruction of his ex-wife’s boyfriend, Eckhart as “Nick Naylor” is affable, engaging, smart and energetic.

Without any doubt, you’d like to be his friend and he’s on everybody’s invitation list for New Year’s Eve – that is, if they want their party to seriously rock.

Eckhart, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work here, wrings every ounce possible out of the “Nick Naylor” character with outstanding scenes with fellow members of MOD (Masters of Destruction — the PR reps of tobacco, alcohol and guns); with Robert Duvall, who plays a tobacco company founder called “The Captain;” and with Rob Lowe as “Jeff Megall,” the icy-smooth, no-ethics leader of a powerful Hollywood talent agency who can get stars to smoke on screen for money while dealing with genocidal dictators without blinking an eye.

However, the best supporting actor working here is – no surprise – William H. Macy as the stuck-up, egotistical U.S. Sen. “Ortolan Finistirre,” whose mission in life is to stamp out cigarettes. The film would be even better if these two were onscreen together longer (maybe even notched an Oscar nomination instead of two for Golden Globes – Eckhart and for best comedy or musical). Still, Macy makes it look all too easy.

Now, to expand on some comments about the main cast …

  • Eckhart also played a “Nick” in 1999 in “Any Given Sunday” with Al Pacino. That time he was “Nick Crozier,” a coach, and he didn’t have much to work with. His career has gotten busier since “Smoking” and was in the “reboot” of the big-screen spectacle film “Midway” (click here for my review of the original) about the key S. victory over the Japanese in World War II. He has also been in “Battle Los Angeles” and “Olympus Has Fallen.” You probably most recognize him as “Harvey Dent” in “The Dark Knight” from two years after “Thank You for Smoking.”
  • An Oscar nominee for “Fargo” and five-time Golden Globe nominee (not for this one), Macy does his usual exceptional turn in his few scenes, but unfortunately isn’t given the time to do much direct fencing with Eckhart. That’s a big disappointment, but, then again, you can probably focus too much on such a pairing. You’ll also remember Macy’s work in “Boogie Nights” with Burt Reynolds and I found him at his powerful best in a pair of dark, dark dramas – “Panic” with Donald Sutherland and Neve Campbell (click here for my review) and “The Cooler” with Bello. He’s also a two-time winner of Primetime Emmys and a 13-time nominee! It doesn’t appear you can go wrong with a production featuring Mr. Macy.
  • While Macy is the best supporting actor, the best interpersonal effort is by Eckhart in his interplay with his son “Joey Naylor,” played by Cameron Bright. Eckhart peaks in the extended scene where he teaches the boy how any side can be proven right in a debate by not being correct in the debate, but proving the other side wrong. Bright continues to make his way in Hollywood, following up his “Smoking” turn with roles in three “Twilight” films and is another with a credit for “Juno.” He will be in one film that was in pre-production in 2025, but hasn’t had an acting credit since 2018.

As for the MOD Squad, the group is rounded out by the ever-wonderful Maria Bello as “Polly Bailey,” who is the spokeswoman for the alcohol industry, and the under-appreciated comedian-actor-writer David Koechner as “Bobby Jay Bliss,” who is the spokesman for the firearms industry. Both give nearly equal performances to Macy, and make sure the film doesn’t stumble on the subplot level.

I’ve already noted that Duvall and Lowe are in this one, but I must write that they have but a few lines – especially for an actor of Robert’s stature – and each delivers every syllable perfectly. I don’t know if either would fit in better with more screen time, but there’s no argument that they are a cut-above the tiny roles each plays. BTW … Duvall died at 95 on Feb. 15, 2026.

Other supporting work of note …

  • Kim Dickens plays Eckhart’s former wife “Jill Naylor.” Again, here’s a character not given enough room to maneuver, but Dickens manages to make sure it isn’t a complete waste – and that earns her a positive grade. Dickens has been in movies including “The Blind Side” and “Gone Girl” as well as a variety of work on television. Less notable, she was in the awful remake of “Footloose.”
  • Rounding out the notable supporting cast is veteran character actor and 2019 Oscar nominee Sam Elliott. He plays “Lorne Lutch,” who is called the original “Marlboro Man” in tobacco ads (the ad name is accurate; Lorne Lutch is a character). Elliott is dying of lung cancer and Eckhart is trying to buy his silence with a briefcase full of money. Elliott, with his signature deep voice, gives an emotional turn and the part was just a little too small for critical acclaim. Elliott didn’t win for “A Star is Born,” but he certainly adds class to any film. Elliott was the narrator of the classic “The Big Lebowski” and also did such varied roles in films like “Tombstone,” “Road House” with Patrick Swayze (click here to read my review) and “Mask” as well as dozens of roles on TV series and in TV movies, including “Draft Day” (click here to read my review).

The only discordant note in the movie is that filmmakers could have cast virtually any other actor than Katie Holmes to play the role of the back-stabbing reporter “Heather Holloway” and the film would have been better. However, we’re stuck with a wooden performance from an actor with only second-tier ability – and “second-tier” is high praise for her ability. Anyone else would have been able to make something of the character – and not just allow it to languish, wither and be almost instantly forgotten. Holmes has been in … ah, who cares? I don’t. Ask me some other time.

Now, back to the plot of the movie …

The film takes nasty detour when Eckhart is kidnapped and attacked by having dozens of nicotine patches put on his body and is nearly killed. However, this allows Koechner to deliver a great scene showing Eckhart’s son the handgun he concel-carries.

In the end, of course, Eckhart manages to turn the tables on his opponents then squares off against Macy in a Congressional hearing. He rebounds, of course, and the ending that shows his next PR career is prophetic.

Somewhat lost amid the great acting is the great job done by director Jason Reitman. “Thank You for Smoking” was his first film in the director’s chair and it obviously revealed his talent. He followed it up “Juno,” for which he earned the first of his four Oscar nominations. He also has a Golden Globe and a Globe nomination for “Up in the Air,” which earned three of his Oscar nominations.

“Thank You for Smoking” is one you (might) have never heard of, so do yourself a favor and watch it.

In a prime example of how the movie-going public doesn’t know much about great films, “Thank You for Smoking” was ranked 103rd with $24.7 million at theaters in 2006, according to Box Office Mojo. It was made on a budget of $10 million, according to Wiki. The No. 1 film of the year was “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” with $423.3 million. Other films I’ve reviewed from that year include:

Here are some cast and film notes (details from IMDb.com):

  • Bright’s birth name is Cameron Douglas Crigger; Bello’s middle name is Elaina; Duvall’s middle name is Selden; Holmes’ full name is Kate Noelle Holmes; Lowe’s middle name is Hepler; and Elliott’s middle name is Pack.
  • Eckhart’s boss is played by Oscar winner (not for this one) J.K. Simmons, that one-time Farmers Insurance He has great facial expressions; the perfect voice; and is just the right bit smarmy as the corporate villain. It’s a small role, but he knows his craft. Simmons won for 2014’s “Whiplash” and was simply terrible in the even worse “The Jackal” (click here to read my review). BTW … his initials stand for Jonathan Kimble.
  • Directly from IMDb.com: “As part of the message the movies promotes, no one is shown smoking a cigarette throughout the entire movie. In fact, except in the black and white film that Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) watches, no one is seen even holding a cigarette. Naylor holds an empty packet and The Captain (Robert Duvall) holds an (unlit) cigar.”
  • Eckhart was cast in “The Dark Knight” because of his work in “Thank You for Smoking.”
  • Directly from IMDb.com: “The rifle that Lutch aims at Nick was Sam Elliott‘s personal Winchester Model 1894 that Elliott had brought with him.”
  • OK, I like Duane “The Rock” Johnson (check out the reboot of “Baywatch” – click here for my review – or, in a much better effort from him, try “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” – click here for my review). However, he was considered for the “Nick Naylor” part and I can say he would have come up way short of Eckhart’s effort. Sorry, Duane, but this one wasn’t for you!
  • Actor, comic and social commentator Dennis Miller has a cameo as himself.
  • Finally and directly from IMDb.com: “Sam Elliott‘s character Lorne Lutch is based on real “Marlboro Man” model Wayne McLaren, who contracted lung cancer, testified for anti-smoking legislation, and had the Phillip Morris Company try to deny he was in the ads. Two other models – David McLean and Dick Hammer – also died of lung cancer. A fourth, Eric Lawson, died of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, at the age of 72 in 2014.”

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