Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 1

April 11, 2006

Films Reviewed: Thank You For Smoking and Inside Man

Commentary: The SEC and Industry Salary Reporting

Featurette: Behind The Scenes of Thank You For Smoking

Regarding Thank You For Smoking:

Matt: Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman, makes his directorial debut here with a very sharp and very funny political satire about the virtues of the tobacco industry. This film is a triumph of wit and production design. Be sure to check out the faux cigarette brands! Three and a half stars.

Aron: Not only is this film sharp and funny, it also boasts some excellent performances by Aaron Eckhart, William H Macy and (in a kimono) Rob Lowe! And in an unintentional tribute, the son of the main character also goes to work with his father, a la this director. Three and a half stars from me as well.

Average Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Regarding Inside Man:

Aron: This is not so much a typical Spike Lee “joint” as it is a thriller with many angles. Denzel Washington makes a good detective trying to make sense of a bank robbery where nothing is what it seems. Definitely a solid way to spend a Friday night. Three stars.

Matt: I have to concur with Aron on this one. Also in the cast are Clive Owen as the head bank robber, Jodie Foster as a power broker and an unrecognizable Willem Dafoe as a police officer. Go see it for the acting. Three stars.

Average Rating: *** (out of ****)

Commentary: The major Hollywood studios and their parent companies (News Corp, Time Warner, Etc.) are trying to block the SEC from reporting “uncorporate” employees (such as actors, directors and newscasters) salaries. Aron and Matt discussed what this could mean to the consumer and why the SEC should read Variety every now and then.

Featurette: Behind The Scenes of Thank You For Smoking.