FREAKONOMICS: THE MOVIE (Released to Tribeca Film Festival Manhattan Borough New York New York USA 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Stars ììì

Freakonomics: The Movie—documentary broken into four segments—endeavors to explore the value of a name, corruption in Sumo wrestling, late 1990s United States crime decline, and value of bribing to induce change in human behavior. The film appears disjointed and fragmented, does not adequately provide alternative viewpoints for argumentation, lacks resolution and emotional appeal, and falls deeply short on why any of this is relevant information. The film lost nearly $2,800,000 in box office. While the two narrators are personable, their combined personality is not enough to pull this film off.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Exploration of method to change human behavior, a decade of crime decline, corruption in a sport, and name value.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Directors Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, and Morgan Spurlock. Thank you to Executive Producers Paul Fiore, Seth Gordon, Damon Martin, Jay Rifkin, and Michael Roban for making the film possible. Cast include: James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock, Melvin Van Peebles, Bill Gates, Greg Crowe, and Lian Amado.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. There are serious connective issues with information presentation built within.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (All Medias Release USA 2005)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room—documentary—works on a predefined format as an attempt to establish how and why Enron went bankrupt. The movie has been well formulated and cycles around an easily understandable presentation. Take care choosing this as a family watch as there are exceptionally pornographic scenes thrown into the middle of the film. For the most part, it serves as a good watch for the adult audience. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The documentary examines the path of Enron from its beginning to its demise. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Alex Gibney for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Alex Gibney, Jason Kliot, Susan Motamed, and Alison Ellwood for making the film possible. Narration by Peter Coyote. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. It is well put together and follows a pre-defined path. Except for the introduction of unnecessary pornographic scenes in the middle of the movie, it is completely watchable.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers