Thank You for Smoking

What if I told you that cigarettes aren't that bad for you? You would probably look at me with a crazy stare and want to hurt me as a way of beating the ignorance out of me.

 Thank You for Smoking is a satire that feels just as relevant today as it did in 2005.  The movie has one goal: people will do whatever as long as you can do whatever to get people to believe.

The story is about Nick Naylor, the chief spokesperson for Big Tobacco, who describes himself as having a "moral flexibility" that others don't have. Nick is a highly confident and emotionally intellegent person who can walk into any room and own it. The movie isn't just about the tobacco industry, it’s about Nick trying to balance his career as a professional liar with his desire to be a good role model for his young son, Joey. He doesn't necessarily want his kid to smoke, but wants him to undertand that you will hold power if you can convince people to do something. 

What makes this movie unique is its refusal to be a traditional apologetic moral. A more cliche script would have ended with Nick having a sudden change of heart and apologizing for his career. But instead it shows that Nick is unapologetic for what he does and his goal.  One of the most hard hitting scenes takes place on a daytime talk show where Nick sits next to a teenager who has cancer. Instead of folding under the pressure, Nick stays confident, suggesting that the anti-smoking groups actually want the boy to stay sick so they can keep their funding. 

The way Nick is able to turn a suspect into a victim is what makes him great at what he does. The movie does not hold back on feelings and emotions and it does not care about morals. The movie soley speaks on how far you can go if ou believe what you sell.