#1 Thank You For Smoking

Thank You For Smoking (2005) is an American motion picture that plays as a humorous satire for the political implications of smoking and tobacco industries. The film revolves around Nick Naylor, the chief spokesman (i.e. lobbyist) of The Academy of Tobacco Studies, an institute established to advertise cigarettes in a positive light and improve its economic condition, and how he induces an agreeable impression of cigarettes to both smokers and non-smokers alike (in other words, his job is to keep people buying cigarettes through smooth-talking). Social issues begin to arise as he has to set himself as an idol to his 12-year old son and compete with anti-smoking enterprises.

Upon first viewing, Thank You For Smoking didn't really have that much of an effect on me. Most of it seemed pretty generic without enough pizzazz. But seeing it again, a major factor of ideas regarding social values and media influence was put into question, and the pizzazz kinda got to me. The movie, ingeniously using humor to disguise the grim reality behind smoking and its media counterpart, uncovers the awkward ways of how the media successfully elicits control to the majority of the public. Yet it also discusses the significance of parenting and giving proper education to children in order for them to be aware of the world realistically and what can be of an effect them in the future.

Check it out, it's pretty cool.

PS: Don't miss the video below