Thank You for Smoking - Personal Review

1. What do you feel is the message the director is trying to express in this movie? Support your answer with examples.
The director was trying to express how big corporations such as the tobacco industry can hire an influential man to make a subject like smoking look so glamorous.
2. If applicable, discuss if you think this movie has accurate depictions of minorities or if they are situational? Why or why not?
This movie consisted of no minorities. All of the characters were Caucasian Americans.
3. Explain if you think the director’s ethnic/cultural/professional background played a role in directing this film?
The director’s parents are Jewish and Christian. Both of his parents are Caucasian. His simple background has set the tone for the mostly white cast that he has in his other films as well, such as Juno and Up in the Air.
4. What groups (people of color, nationality, culture, class, gender etc.) may be offended or misinterpret this movie and why?
The group that could be offended by this movie is businesswomen. Nick’s female friend who was a big executive in the alcohol industry was perceived to be a cold and callous woman who only cared about being on the top of her game. It definitely depicted businesswomen in a negative light.
5. What the movie added to your visual literacy?
This movie didn’t really add anything to my visual literacy. The only part that I found somewhat unique was the beginning when they showed the animation of the different designs of tobacco packages. It’s fascinating to me how they take an “adult” product and try to sell it to children from very early on. They make the images appealing to them so that they wonder for years what is inside of them and how “cool” they are.
6. What kind of artistic and/or visual means did the director use in the movie to focus our attention?
The captions that were shown when Nick was first introduced were used to show how Nick was kind of a kid at heart. He basically just wanted people to believe him and to like him. The animation of the different designs of tobacco packages were used to show how the tobacco industry uses upbeat visuals to make tobacco seem exciting and fun and something people show be a part of.