A new tactic? People have been smoking cigarettes in movies forever, for a couple reasons. 1) Stylistically, it looks cool and makes great shots. The light goi

A new tactic? People have been smoking cigarettes in movies forever, for a couple reasons. 1) Stylistically, it looks cool and makes great shots. The light going through the smoke, the burning sound of the inhale. 2) It tells us something about the character and their value systems and their psychological state. Maybe they have a devil-may-care attitude, maybe they are under distress. 3) It gives an excuse for characters to stand and talk. It also is an excuse for a character to be alone is silent contemplation while also doing something the audience can see (smoking). Without cigarettes, both of this situations feel more contrived and less natural.