Freakonomics (2010)

A collection of documentaries that explores the hidden side of human nature through the use of the science of economics.

Directors:

Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney,

Writers:

Peter Bull, Alex Gibney,

Stars:

James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
James Ransone
Tempestt Bledsoe	...	Herself
Morgan Spurlock	...	Himself - Narrator
Melvin Van Peebles	...	Himself - Narrator (segment "It's Not Always A Wonderful Life")
Bill Gates	...	Himself
Greg Crowe	...	Johnny the Mechanic
Zoe Sloane	...	Blake
Alisha Nagarsheth	...	Student
Sammuel Soifer	...	Jake
Konishiki	...	Himself
John D. Rockefeller	...	Himself
Kahiry Bess	...	Deshawn
Carl Alleyne	...	Boyfriend
Jade Viggiano	...	High School Girl
Jalani McNair	...	Loser

Storyline

The field of economics can study more than the workings of economies or businesses, it can also help explore human behavior in how it reacts to incentives. Economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner host an anthology of documentaries that examines how people react to opportunities to gain, wittingly or otherwise. The subjects include the possible role a person's name has for their success in life, why there is so much cheating in an honor bound sport like sumo wrestling, what helped reduce crime in the USA in the 1990s onward and we follow an school experiment to see if cash prizes can encourage struggling students to improve academically.

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Plot Keywords:

economics | cheating | sumo wrestling | experiment | human nature | 

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Taglines:

Six Rogue Filmmakers Explore The Hidden Side Of Everything

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for elements of violence, sexuality/nudity, drugs, and brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 September 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Freakonomia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$31,893 (USA) (2 October 2010)

Gross:

$100,675 (USA) (26 November 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chad Troutwine Films, Cold Fusion Media Group, Green Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Himself - Author: The closest thing to a worldview, I would say, in "Freakonomics," is that incentives matter. Not just financial incentives, but social incentives and moral incentives.

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Connections

Features It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

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Soundtracks

"This Too Shall Pass"
Written by Damian Kulash (as Damian Joseph Kulash Jr.) and Timothy Nordwind (as Tim Nordwind)
Performed by OK Go
Published by OK Go Publishing (BMI)

User Reviews

Enjoyable and interesting

First I want to say that I have not read the book and can not compare the film to it, although I am familiar with these types of studies and find them all interesting. I found the film interesting and nicely made, with great animations that get the point across. Everything is explained very well.

They had an interesting order of the bits or chapters, since they kept the first few short and sweet, and then put the longer (for me a bit drawn out) chapters after. I think this is to keep the audiences attention, since I was thinking "well the first ones were short, it can't take much longer till the next one comes", and then some more short ones interspersed with another longer one in between. This is of course subjective, since I did not take my stopwatch out to time them.

All in all, I found the film well done. I hope they make more in the future, since I really enjoyed the little animations and the way it was done in general..