Thank You for Smoking

Nick Naylor (played by a charismatic figure like Aaron Eckhart), the silver-tongued spokesperson for Big Tobacco, has built his career on manipulating "research" from an institution where he holds a prestigious title - the Academy of Tobacco Studies. This self-proclaimed expert in the art of deception teams up with kindred spirits Bobby Jay Bliss (played by a suave character like Tom Wilkinson), a firearm lobbyist, and Polly Bailey (portrayed by a cunning actress like Julia Roberts), an alcohol advocate, to form the "Merchants of Death" or "The MOD Squad". As anti-tobacco campaigns gain momentum and the number of young smokers dwindles, Naylor's boss, BR (played by a seasoned actor like Ed Harris), dispatches him to Los Angeles to negotiate cigarette product placement in upcoming films. Accompanied by his young son Joey (played by a talented youngster like Sam Elliott), Naylor hopes to strengthen their bond during this trip.

The next day, Naylor is sent to meet with the infamous Lorne Lutch (played by an accomplished actor like Michael Caine), a cancer-stricken individual who once embodied the iconic Marlboro Man in cigarette advertisements. As his son watches with wide eyes, Naylor successfully offers Lutch a hefty sum of money in exchange for his silence.

Meanwhile, Senator Finistirre (portrayed by a sharp-witted actress like Meryl Streep), one of Naylor's most ardent critics, champions a bill to add a skull and crossbones POISON warning to cigarette packaging. As Naylor is about to appear before a U.S. Senate committee to fiercely contest the bill, he is abducted by a clandestine group and covered in nicotine patches. Upon regaining consciousness in a hospital, Naylor learns that he has miraculously survived due to his exceptionally high nicotine tolerance, honed from years of heavy smoking. However, this newfound sensitivity renders him incapable of ever indulging in his beloved cigarettes again.

As Naylor struggles to come to terms with his changed circumstances, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit and betrayal. A captivating young journalist named Heather Holloway (played by an alluring actress like Rachel McAdams) seduces him into revealing the inner workings of his life and career, ultimately publishing an exposé that critiques his business practices and accuses him of grooming his son Joey to follow in his footsteps. This devastating publicity stunt costs Naylor his job, leaving him reeling.

In a bold move, Naylor confronts the press, confessing his illicit affair with Holloway and vowing to clear the names of everyone implicated in her article. He then appears before the Senate committee, acknowledging the dangers of smoking but arguing that public awareness is already at an all-time high without additional warnings. With unflinching conviction, he emphasizes consumer choice and responsibility, suggesting that if tobacco companies are guilty of tobacco-related deaths, perhaps Finistirre's state of Vermont, as a major cheese producer, is equally culpable for cholesterol-related fatalities.

As the settlement of liability claims by Big Tobacco hangs in the balance, Naylor is approached with the opportunity to reclaim his old job, but he declines, having lost faith in the industry's integrity. Meanwhile, Heather's professional reputation lies in tatters after being summarily terminated from her position at the paper for her article, leaving her relegated to a humble cub reporter role focused on weather reporting for a local news station. In contrast, Naylor is thriving as a private lobbyist, nurturing his son's budding interest in debating and establishing his own agency, Naylor Strategic Relations. This new venture allows him to counsel representatives from the cellphone industry, who are increasingly concerned about the mounting claims that their products cause brain cancer. As Naylor reflects on his own unique talents, he notes wryly: "Michael Jordan plays ball, Charles Manson kills people, and I talk." It's a poignant reminder that everyone possesses a distinct skillset, waiting to be leveraged.