Dullard review: "Thank You for Smoking"

"Thank You for Smoking" is a topical movie that has been overtaken by events. The big battles of the tobacco wars were fought in the 1990s, so this soft-edged satire feels at least five years overdue. And that's unfortunate, because at times, "Thank You" is witty and winning.

The movie's morally challenged center is Nick Naylor, the head PR man for Big Tobacco. As played by Aaron Eckhart, Naylor is a master of turning the cigarette industry from defender to aggressor in any confrontation. He can seemingly get anyone to do anything, through shame, guilt or befuddlement. As Nick explains: "You know the guy who can get any girl he wants? I'm that guy, on crack."

The most intriguing sections of "Thank You" come in the scenes in Naylor's interactions with his son, Joey. This is role-modeling gone wild: A father teaching his child how to win an argument not by virtue of the facts or debating technique, but by turning the opponent's words against himself. Watching this pre-adolescent learn the ways of his mentor is both frightening and amusing.

"Thank You" comes to a dead halt, however, whenever Katie Holmes is on screen. Holmes plays an unethical reporter (no, that is not a redundancy) who is writing a profile on Nick. She begins her examination by sharing a bottle of wine with her subject and is soon sleeping with him. This could have been a funny take on how journalists and lobbyists are in bed together, but Holmes has no feel for the role and shares no chemistry with Eckhart. Between this and her weakest-link performance in "Batman Begins," it has become clear that she is not ready for the big screen.

The movie has better luck with others in the supporting cast. Robert Duvall, as a North Carolina tobacco magnate, and J.K. Simmons, as a brash boss along the lines of his J. Jonah Jameson character in the "Spider-Man" movies, both turn in solid performances.

As smart as this movie is, it also relies on stereotypes. The mint julep is not a frequently consumed beverage in North Carolina. (That's Kentucky.) And Vermonters may grumble about the representation of their senator (played by William H. Macy) as a Birkenstock-wearing do-gooder.

Based on a book of the same name and written and directed by 20-something Jason Reitman, "Thank You" may have worked better if updated for today's times. For example, Nick Naylor could be a perfect TV talk show host along the lines of Bill O'Reilly. Now that would be a satire for our age.

DULLARD RATING: So-so.

Clam conversion complete

Thomas Mapother IV (stage name: Tom Cruise) tells ABC's Diane Sawyer that alleged gal-pal Katie Holmes has switched from Catholicism to Scientology. It's the first public confirmation of what many knew (and rightly feared) for months.

ITMFA

Columnist Dan Savage of "Savage Love" fame has always mixed politics into his sex advice. (Just ask Rick Santorum.) But now Savage is getting more explicitly political at his new site, the name of which is NSFW.

Our lives at 45 rpm

Fourth in a series of posts on one Dullard's collection of 45s

Song: "Do It Again"
Artist: The Kinks
Year released: 1984
Highest U.S. chart position: 41

DULLARD TAKE: Despite the band's name, the track's title and the cover art for this single, "Do It Again" is not a sex song. It's another example of Kinks leader Ray Davies exploring issues of conformity, class and culture, the intertwined topics of much of his songbook.

Rung in with a chord that is reminiscent of "A Hard Day's Night," this song starts slowly, with a plaintive vocal from Davies. Then it kicks into a fairly ferocious rocker, with Davies brother (and occasional fight-club partner) Dave in fine form on guitar. The lyrics and music are fierce and angry, tempered with a dose of Ray's famous drollery:

The days go by and you wish you were a different guy,
Different friends and a new set of clothes.
You make alterations and affect a new pose,
A new house, a new car, a new job, a new nose.

"Do It Again," with its commentary on the mind-numbing repetition of life in Maggie Thatcher's England, was a precursor to "Return to Waterloo," Ray's short film that was accompanied by a "Kinky" soundtrack of the same name. Absent of the whimsy and nostalgia of the band's previous 1980s hits, "Do It Again" failed to crack Casey Kasem's American Top 40. Indeed, its failure proved to be a signal for the Kinks' artistic and commercial difficulties to come, and the band would never again score a hit Stateside. Yet "Do It Again" is arguably a better track than "Come Dancing" and continues to ring true more than 20 years on.

Pint-size Kiss impersonators gone wild!

Things get ugly between dwarves when pint-size tribute bands collide in Las Vegas. (Where else?)

How to skip work

Tired of the grind at the office? Tell your boss your kid died and take a couple of bereavement days. If asked for documentation to back up your claim, get an obit of the kid published in the local paper. It almost worked for these folks in Iowa.

Check your head

When in India, don't forget to tilt.

Sayid: I love L.A.

Naveen Andrews of TV's "Lost" says Los Angeles feels like home. Andrews (who unlike his character Sayid is not from Iraq, but actually Indian by way of the U.K.) describes L.A. as a haven of those seeking their roots. It probably doesn't hurt that his gal-pal, Barbara Hershey of "Beaches" fame, lives there too.

Seymour Hersh on US's Iran plans

Scary stuff.

Muscle-bound morticians

It's for a good cause (helping women who have breast cancer), but a calendar called "Men of Mortuaries: You'll Just Dig 'Em" is creepy. Key quote:

The hardest part was finding 12 attractive funeral directors. That just doesn't happen.

Answers to Dullard news quiz

Here are the answers to the Dullard news quiz, which asked you to match the headlines to the media outlets.

1. Cynthia McKinney caves, apologizes for Capitol scuffle
Answer: F, "Hannity and Colmes"

2. President Bush personally approved Iraq leak
Answer: E, The Huffington Post

3. Dealer says he sold drugs to Natalie Holloway in Aruba
Answer: A, "Live and Direct with Rita Cosby"

4. Liberal judge gives child rapist a slap on the wrist
Answer: G, "The O'Reilly Factor"

5. O’Falafel wildly misrepresents child-rape case
Answer: B, "Countdown"

6. Sources say CBS News staff secretly loathes Katie Couric
Answer: C, The Drudge Report

7. Illegals wave Mexican flags during L.A. protests — the nerve!
Answer: D, generic radio talk show host

8. Clooney spotted eating a hot dog on the Upper West Side
Answer: H, Gawker

FOLLOW-UP: Media Matters looks at Fox's coverage of McKinney vs. Bush.

Possible soundtrack for TV's "Lost"

With the main cast and creators on board for another season of "Lost," it's time to think about what Year 3 may bring on the island.

One of the more distinctive things about the show is the music: The main theme is more of a blend of metallic tones and swooshes than an actual song. Perhaps it's time to bring in more popular music to the island, something the show has already done to some degree. Just think about the merchandising possibilities!

MAIN CHARACTERS

"The Joker," Steve Miller (Sawyer's theme)
"Calling Doctor Love," Kiss (Jack's theme)
"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)," Robert Palmer (Kate's island theme)
"Take the Money and Run," Steve Miller (Kate's flashback theme)
"Walk of Life" Dire Straits (Locke's theme)

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

"Head Games," Foreigner (Hurley/Dave/Libby theme)
"Take A Chance on Me," Abba (Hurley's lottery theme)
"Heroin," the Velvet Underground (Charlie's theme)
"Torture," the Cure (Sayid's theme)
"Shoot to Thrill," AC/DC (Ana-Lucia's theme)
"Missionary Man," Eurythmics (Mr. Eko's theme)
"Cat's in the Cradle," Harry Chapin (Michael's theme)
"Mother Nature's Son," the Beatles (Walt's theme)
"Space Dog," Tori Amos (Vincent's theme)
"The Last Balloon," XTC (Henry Gale's theme)

OTHER THEMES

"Jet Airliner," Steve Miller (opening theme)
"Synchronicity I and II," the Police (reveal theme)
"Jungle Love," Steve Miller (love theme)
"Going to California," Led Zeppelin (Oceanic Airlines theme)
"815," The Who (Flight 815 theme; remixed version of "5:15")
"Computer Blue," Prince (hatch theme)
"Bungle in the Jungle," Jethro Tull (Dharma Initiative theme)

FOOTNOTE: This setlist includes four Steve Miller tracks. Hmmm. Frank loves "Lost." Frank loves Steve Miller. Coincidence?

Crossword commotion at NYT

Some puzzle masters are irked that "scumbag" was the answer to 43 Down in a New York Times crossword.

Dullard news quiz!

Match the headline with the media outlet. Answers in a later post!

1. Cynthia McKinney caves, apologizes for Capitol scuffle
2. President Bush personally approved Iraq leak
3. Dealer says he sold drugs to Natalie Holloway in Aruba
4. Liberal judge gives child rapist a slap on the wrist
5. O’Falafel wildly misrepresents child-rape case
6. Sources say CBS News staff secretly loathes Katie Couric
7. Illegals wave Mexican flags during L.A. protests — the nerve!
8. Clooney spotted eating a hot dog on the Upper West Side


a. “Live and Direct with Rita Cosby”
b. “Countdown”
c. The Drudge Report
d. Generic radio talk show host
e. The Huffington Post
f. “Hannity and Colmes”
g. “The O’Reilly Factor”
h. Gawker