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Mathew Scott

Thank You for Smoking

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Adam Brody, William H. Macy, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe

Director: Jason Reitman

The film: First-time director Jason Reitman sharpens his knife and plunges it deep into the heart of that very modern social phenomena: the art of spin doctoring. And although he sets his biting satire around the tobacco lobby, it's more far reaching,  laying bare the notion that anything can be believed, as long as you can bend the truth to suit your purposes.

Aaron Eckhart doesn't so much as take on the lead role, as take it over completely. He plays a spin doctor in the employ of Big Tobacco, who can turn any situation - even a TV appearance next to a boy dying from cancer - into a positive one. But the web of spin he weaves eventually engulfs him when he's caught out by a beautiful young reporter, who tells his real story to the world. Not that our hero cares too much - he just finds another way to use the situation to meet his own ends. And Eckhart (below with Katie Holmes) is utterly convincing all the way.

And that's where the humour stems from. All the people we meet have no crisis of morality. They're convinced their skill in life is massaging the truth, and they happily go about their business. You even feel sympathy for them.

Best of all are the scenes where the Mod Squad - Merchants of Death - gather to discuss how much effect their work is having on death rates. It's impossible not to laugh, despite the dire topic. They include spin doctors from the gun lobby,  the alcohol industry and Big Tobacco and they merrily share apple pie covered in processed cheese. Nothing could be more American, one of them says as he spins his deceit. Indeed.

The sadly underused Rob Lowe almost  steals the film as a Hollywood publicist with a fixation on Asian culture. It's a brief cameo but  a brilliant one.

The director refrains from brow-beating, and is helped by a stellar performance from Eckhart in what is a smart and very funny production.

The extras: A making-of documentary allows  the filmmakers to talk at length about the real target of the film - those spin doctors - as does  a segment, American: Living in Spin, which cleverly cuts in footage of some of the present-day masters of the craft. There's a whole host of deleted scenes, most of which work well - but, according to the director, were simply cut in order to reduce running time. The commentary is provided by the main players.

The verdict: Reitman  plays for laughs - and there are plenty. It's a soft but still savage assault.



Thank You for Smoking