It is amazing to me how smoking changes the ambience in a film. For example, imagine Carl Sagan in Cosmos smoking as he discusses the mysteries of the universe.
Well, I'll dispute the "intangible allure" bit.
I've never seen it as alluring in any way, shape or form. Like any other addiction, it is making you subject to it. If you like being manipulated by megalithic corporations into spending tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your shortened life (literally watching it go up in smoke), feel free. But don't kid yourself into thinking that it is somehow "alluring" to everyone.
It's alluring because it adds texture to the image. Texture is alluring.
Hectoring strangers on the internet about what other people should do with their lives, on the other hand, ooh baby, that's hot stuff. Gimme some of that self-righteousness, sugar!
...I kid because I love can. Nothing personal. ;)
...arghlebargle. Strike, strike, strike. Preview, preview, preview.
Now I need a cigarette. And I don't even smoke.
As an ex-smoker, I can certainly testify to the allure of an actor enjoying the hell out of a cigarette on-screen. It SUCKS if you're trying to quit, and it absolutely sucks that cigarette companies can pay for product placement, but the allure is definitely there for anyone who's ever enjoyed a smoke.
And while the product placement is unethical in the extreme, it's tough to argue that a director or screenwriter should be prevented from fleshing out the character by making him/her a smoker.
well, I don't know about the rest of it, but there is a certain measure of allure in the mental image of Ms. Driver rolling over and whispering to me in that heavenly voice of hers: "Mmmm, Fes, that was superbly done - light us up a ciggie, would you, love?"
I'm surprised this list doesn't include Dead Again. There's a running bit all through it about smokers.
Everyone is free to do whatever they want with their lives, and I said so in my post. Righteousness, self or otherwise has nothing to do with it. Smokers trying to quit will tell you that nicotine is the most addictive of substances and the physical addiction is only part of the equation. It is self-destructive on multiple levels and smokers either really don't care, or have a kernel of self-loathing that they lack the power to defeat the addiction. Whatever. We've all got our various problems and none of us is perfect.
The poster was pre-supposing its "allure". This is akin to a heterosexual thinking that a gay man shares his view of the allure of feminine flesh (or vice-versa). Naturally it will be alluring to someone who already shares the addiction.
Any allure probably has more to do with the fact that it is frowned upon for children and so is viewed as "grownup looking" to adolescents (and thus "cool" or rebellious). Adults viewing smoking-adults as "cool" started going out sometime in the 60's.
And you read minds, too. That really is impressive.
Water for that grindstone you're sharpening that axe on - I mean... Tea?
Well, I realize you are (probably) just attempting to bait me with the "read minds" comment, but I didn't come up with the concept. The study cited here lists three "types" of smokers, the last of which is "Self blaming - smokers who feel disgust and self loathing about their habit and reported shame at their smoking causing ill health in themselves and others. . ."
Surely you don't deny Wurwilf, that since you don't feel that way, that no one can?
The only "ax" I have to grind is the pre-supposition (in the original item) that everyone finds smoking intrinsically "alluring".
Actually, I hit the post button a little too soon. The "allure" part was meant to be taken with a grain of irony.
come on, this is easy for me, an ex-smoker, to suss.
smoking on film is all the alluring stuff without any of the down side. no stinky smoke, no watering eyes, no coughing etc...just looking cool and sophisticated, like all those cigarette manufacturers have always promised you will be if you smoke their cigs...
ask me how I learned to appear cool and sophisticated without a cigarette in my hand!!!
William B. Davis from the X-Files (Cigarette Smoking Man) was actually anti-tobacco and liked to portray smoking in a negative light, hence the constant smoking of his evil character on the show.
Smoke in film is incredible. Think about what it can do:
1. Motions for actors in close-up or medium shots (lighting, inhaling, exhaling, extinguishing, tamping)
2. Volume and texture for the frame. (Von Stroheim used to use layers of scrims for this, in The Blue Angel for instance, but smoke does it without effecting the mise en scene, as long as the characters can credibly be smokers.)
3. Plot point (address on a matchbook, two characters meeting over a lighter)
4. Sexual suggestion. (visual metaphor for fellatio)
5. Lighting near face provides eye sparkle.
6. Show contempt. (blow smoke in someone's face)
Removing the whole cancer / breath / emphysema issue, what's not to like?
Mecurious, have you ever been a smoker?
Regardless of whether pyrrthon1 was trying to be ironic or not, I didn't read the post as saying anything remotely like "everybody thinks smoking in films is alluring." I saw it more like "that's what the creator of this website thinks of smoking in film."
Rape in film is incredible. Think of what it can do:
1. Motions for actors in close-up or medium shots (tearing, thrusting, screaming, flailing, breaking)
2. Plot point (establishing a dominant role, two characters resolving a conflict)
3. A suggestion of other vices (forceful penetration is a visual metaphor for thrusting a cigar into unyielding lips)
4. Show contempt. (leave the victim utterly destroyed)
Removing the whole criminal / social / psychosis issue, what's not to like?
Sooooz, prefer to remember him by his original character name, Cancer Man.
Think condor hit the nail on the head about smoking in films.
J. Doe: no
Yeah, I agree with condour. On the last film I worked on we had two of the three characters smoke and it really added to the noir-ish look of the film, not to mention giving them "business" and creating interactions with asking for cigarettes and handling lighters.
Fuyugare, you're comparing apples to rusted car parts.
Mecurious, you seem to know a lot about smokers and ex-smokers from one study and not from experience. I have to say that lowers your credibility on the subject.
smokers either really don't care, or have a kernel of self-loathing that they lack the power to defeat the addiction
Or did you interview every single smoker on the planet?
Your incorrect assumption is that I came to my knowledge from the study I cited. In fact, I found the study after both my post and Wurwilf's mind-reading comment. I thought it would be better to substatiate my views with an actual study. They aren't hard to find. Google is your friend.
Feelings of self-loathing in an addict (or anyone engaged in what they know to be self-destructive behavior) is pretty common knowledge. You don't have to talk to (or know) too many smokers to see it is a pretty common feeling.
Interviewing "every single smoker on the planet" is a bit silly, don't you think? You are aware of the way scientific inquiry works with data samples, right?
Come on kids, don't just argue. Argue well.
Rape in film is incredible. Think of what it can do:
1. Motions for actors in close-up or medium shots (tearing, thrusting, screaming, flailing, breaking)
2. Plot point (establishing a dominant role, two characters resolving a conflict)
3. A suggestion of other vices (forceful penetration is a visual metaphor for thrusting a cigar into unyielding lips)
4. Show contempt. (leave the victim utterly destroyed)
Oh, you tease. Just say it, you mad fool, just say it - stop tormenting us with your coquettish charms!
It's pretty common knowlege that cigarette smoking onscreen can be pretty damned sexy.
And since it's pretty common knowlege, its inarguable.
Second.
anyone engaged in what they know to be self-destructive behavior
Smoking is not always a self-destructive behavior. Not even "most of the time."
YMMV.
*as ex-smoker, whines about all things smoking again*
lovecan. Nothing personal. ;)