I was really looking forward to this film and I finally caught it tonight. It's a wonderful piece of film and one of the best directorial debuts in recent memory.
It's interesting that this movie comes out the same weekend as V For Vendetta because both films feature bad guys as the hero. In this case it's a big tobacco lobbyist. It's remarkable how you cheer for this man. Maybe it's because Aaron Eckhart is so unbelievable good and charming in this role. I mean, the character is just a very likeable guy despite his his job. He's a talker. That's what he's good at. What he talks about isn't really the issue to him. For now. Or maybe it's because the message (keep smoking, please) is so ridiculous that it never feels offensive.
The movie raises some fantastic facts about smoking and you do realize what a cunning and evil business it is. Sure, it's a one-sided argument. But the film really convinces you that there is no second side. There's no way around it -- smoking kills. But for Eckhart it's not about the right or wrong of smoking or the health issues. It's about his ability to take an issue and present it in a way that can't be argued. He has a talent for making a discussion less about proving he's right and more about proving the other person isn't...all without having to prove that person wrong. It's a tricky game. But it makes for some truly engaging dialogue and some very smart writing in this movie.
You'd probably figure Jason Reitman to have a knack for comedy considering who is dad is. But honestly, Ivan could learn a few things from this guy. The shots, the photography, the editing are all top notch. There's an art to them. And this touch never sacrifices comedy. It's a consistently funny film from start to finish. It's not Stripes funny. It's not Ghostbusters funny. It's different. More meaningful, in some ways. It accomplishes what Ivan failed to do in his more mature films like Junior and Father's Day.
This film has the chance to be an indie breakout. It's accessible to anybody and if word of mouth spreads, it could be huge. But if not, it's a guaranteed cult smash. This is a special film and the start of a great career for Reitman.
Ele...
It's interesting that this movie comes out the same weekend as V For Vendetta because both films feature bad guys as the hero. In this case it's a big tobacco lobbyist. It's remarkable how you cheer for this man. Maybe it's because Aaron Eckhart is so unbelievable good and charming in this role. I mean, the character is just a very likeable guy despite his his job. He's a talker. That's what he's good at. What he talks about isn't really the issue to him. For now. Or maybe it's because the message (keep smoking, please) is so ridiculous that it never feels offensive.
The movie raises some fantastic facts about smoking and you do realize what a cunning and evil business it is. Sure, it's a one-sided argument. But the film really convinces you that there is no second side. There's no way around it -- smoking kills. But for Eckhart it's not about the right or wrong of smoking or the health issues. It's about his ability to take an issue and present it in a way that can't be argued. He has a talent for making a discussion less about proving he's right and more about proving the other person isn't...all without having to prove that person wrong. It's a tricky game. But it makes for some truly engaging dialogue and some very smart writing in this movie.
You'd probably figure Jason Reitman to have a knack for comedy considering who is dad is. But honestly, Ivan could learn a few things from this guy. The shots, the photography, the editing are all top notch. There's an art to them. And this touch never sacrifices comedy. It's a consistently funny film from start to finish. It's not Stripes funny. It's not Ghostbusters funny. It's different. More meaningful, in some ways. It accomplishes what Ivan failed to do in his more mature films like Junior and Father's Day.
This film has the chance to be an indie breakout. It's accessible to anybody and if word of mouth spreads, it could be huge. But if not, it's a guaranteed cult smash. This is a special film and the start of a great career for Reitman.
Ele...
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