Thank You for Smoking: The Best Satire Movie in a Decade

First off, it's great to finally see a great satire. The "Scary Movie" series? An increasingly crappy series of spoofs, and any movie like "Not Another Teen Movie" follows the same structure. They call themselves satires, but they are spoofs, and not the best ones at that, either. "Thank You For Smoking" was an actual satire, and was fantastic. Smart, hilarious, and accessible, this is a movie that demonstrates fantastic writing, great directing, and a cast of actors and actresses who knew how to work together on the big screen for the greater good of the whole.

This is a fantastic movie about a man who works as Big Tobacco's chief spokesman. Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) is an expert on spin, and can seem to stumble up even the most blatant and loaded anti-tobacco traps. His ability to make the most impossible situations look good for Tobacco made him a living legend among people in the industry. His problem comes with an estranged wife, and he is trying to figure out how to be a good role model to his 12 year old son.

A reporter, played by Kate Winslow, seduces the playboy bachelor Naylor, and comes out with an incredibly tell all story that nearly ends his career. Naylor goes to a live debate in the Senate and faces down Senator Ortolan Finistiree (William H. Macy) in a last ditch attempt to regain his reputation and his job.

This movie is dark and funny, and manages to keep both throughout. Serious issues involved with cigarettes, such as poor health and cancer, are dealt with through the film and yet this movie keeps a dark humor and satiric edge throughout the whole film. Many films like this lose their strength by falling into the trap of getting sentimental at the end, pulling from dark to sappy. "Thank You For Smoking" does not fall into this trap.