Reviews

Overview

Thank You for Smoking, directed by Jason Reitman, is a satire that involves a lobbyist (Aaron Eckhart) that will do virtually anything to protect big tobacco. However, a reporter (Katie Holmes) plays "Nick" and exposes some comments that he thought he made off the record. His son is also involved in the film which creates some interesting ethical dilemmas.

The Good

• It's an outrageous yet hilarious film that shows how "Nick" spins topics as a lobbyist
• The humor is dark, but steady, which keeps things entertaining

The Bad

• It's a pretty solid flick--perhaps the darkness of the humor might not be for everyone though

Final Opinion

Thank You for Smoking is an entertaining satire. It kept me laughing from beginning to end. The only sad thing about it is that this is likely only a bit of an exaggeration of reality for some lobbyists.

Labels: DVD, Thank You for Smoking

Overview

The Perfect Store by Adam Cohen discussed how eBay evolved. Cohen gained insider access to eBay, and he is able to give you a view based on knowledge of Pierre Omidyar--the founder--and other insiders.

The Good

• It's well written
• He had access that others didn't have

The Bad

• It's not going to be critical given the access he had
• The book jumps around a little

Final Opinion

If you're interested in how eBay came to be, The Perfect Store is a good read. While it isn't overly critical, it is interesting, and it allows you to see what fueled eBay's success.