Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has a deal with God that he announces in a NY Times commentary, Hollywood’s Responsibility for Smoking Deaths.
Since he created many movies with glamourous smoking scenes and now has thoat cancer, he now wants to “do everything I can to undo the damage I have done with my own big-screen words and images. I have been an accomplice to the murders of untold numbers of human beings.”
His deal with God: “Spare me, I said, and I will try to stop others from committing the same crimes I did.”
His changed behavior: “I’m no longer such a bad boy. I go to church on Sunday… I haven’t smoked or drank for 18 months now, though I still take it day-to-day and pray for help. I believe in prayer and exercise. I have walked five miles a day for a year, without missing even one day.”
I find it admirable what he’s trying to accomplish, lamentable that he’s hurting his cause by citing his good boy behavior (can you hear the Hollywood cynics laughing? “He’s a saint! He goes to church on Sunday!”), and ridiculous that he believes God has accepted the terms of his foxhole deal and is keeping an eye on him to see if the plug should be pulled or not. He’d be more effective if he kept all the personal and religious stuff to himself.
Better yet, Joe, sell your big buck Hollywood mansion and the rest of the toys I’m sure you’ve accumulated and create a foundation to accomplish your no-smoking-in-movies goal… one that would keep functioning long after you kick the bucket.