Stupidity (2003)

An exploration into the nature of stupidity in Western society and its history of our perception of it.

Director:

Albert Nerenberg

Stars:

George W. Bush, Noam Chomsky, John Cleese

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
George W. Bush	...	Self
Noam Chomsky	...	Self
John Cleese	...	Self
Coolio	...	Self
Drew Curtis	...	Self
Salma Hayek	...	Self
David Lawrence	...	Self
Bill Maher	...	Self
Michael Moore	...	Self
Fred Napoli	...	Narrator
Albert Nerenberg	...	Self
Geoff Pevere	...	Self
Adam Sandler	...	Self
Joel Schumacher	...	Self
Paul Spence	...	Self

Storyline

A lighthearted look at stupidity and ignorance in modern society, as well as a brief history of the study of intelligence. Celebrities and other notable personalities are interviewed on the subject of the prevalence of stupidity in the media and culture.

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Plot Keywords:

stupidity | ignorance | knowledge | intelligence | psychology | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Features The Red Green Show (1991)

User Reviews

The Mind of the Beholder

The bad ratings for this movie prove once again that most voters here, if not everyone except me (readers excluded) is an idiot ;-)

It is not about defining what stupidity IS - I'm sure none of us needs any lessons on that - but exploring why stupidity is so desirable! Don't believe the text ads on this movie's own website; advertising people are tuned in to stupidity 27 hours a day and are making lots of money promoting stupidity - believe me, I should know. (They're only surpassed by the feeble-minded folks advertising NOVELS.) Stupidity sells, so it can't be that stupid after all.

I ass-u-me most of us would agree with the movie's take on certain political personae, but this should not stop us from picking our own noses. Is stupidity the only road to peace of mind in the Atomic Infotainment Age? Were our TV-less ancestors better off? Maybe not. If anything makes our times & age different, it's that TVs have blown up the individual's importance out of all proportion - how else is it possible that I feel I should be able to solve every problem on the planet with my informed opinion? Or the mad idea that War can ever be permanently abolished, now that so much is at stake, if all of us only really, really wish it.

Like Monty Python's "Life of Brian", the movie ends with a sing-along song and a note of black humor: "History is made by stupid people, clever people wouldn't even try..." We learn that someone in Vineland/New Jersey carries the distinction of having invented the word "moron", and the general history of IQ testing. Other than that, the educational benefit in negligible, but if you don't expect a solution to life's questions like you would from a BBC documentary, it's an enjoyable hour that leaves the brain ticking for a few more. On the other hand, you could benefit from a series of mantras near the end on how to become perfectly stupid:

"No thoughts are good thoughts..."

"Remember not to remember..."

"Shift the blame..."

(for the full course google up the guy's name afterwards... yes, I'm not kidding)

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 2003 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Stupidity

Company Credits

Production Co:

Documentary Channel, Trailervision Inc., Téléfilm Canada

Technical Specs

Color:

Color