Merchants of Doubt (2014)

A documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change.

Director:

Robert Kenner

Writers:

Erik M. Conway (original book), Robert Kenner

Stars:

Frederick Singer, Naomi Oreskes, Jamy Ian Swiss

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jamy Ian Swiss	...	Himself - Magician and Magic Historian
Stanton A. Glantz	...	Himself (as Stanton Glantz)
Sam Roe	...	Himself - Journalist, Chicago Tribune
Patricia Callahan	...	Herself - Journalist, Chicago Tribune
James Hansen	...	Himself - Climate Scientist
John Passacantando	...	Himself - Former Executive Director, Greenpeace USA
Bill O'Keefe	...	Himself - Former Chairman of Global Climate Coalition
Naomi Oreskes	...	Herself - Professor of the History of Science
Frederick Singer	...	Himself (as Fred Singer)
Michael Shermer	...	Himself - Founder of The Skeptics Society
James Taylor	...	Himself - Self-Proclaimed Science and Economical Expert, Heartland Institute
Matthew Crawford	...	Himself - Former Executive Director of the George C. Marshall Institute
Marc Morano	...	Himself - Self-Proclaimed Environmental Journalist
Benjamin Santer	...	Himself - Climate Scientist (as Ben Santer)
Michael E. Mann	...	Himself - Climate Scientist (as Michael Mann)

Storyline

A documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change.

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Plot Keywords:

climate change | environmentalism | sleight of hand | magician | climate change denial | 

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Taglines:

Propaganda (noun). 1. Derogatory information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

Untitled Climate Project

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,300, 8 March 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$192,400, 5 April 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Participant Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Roughly 59 minutes into the documentary it cuts to an interview with James Taylor of the Heartland Institute. In the background an office worker in a mobility scooter reverses into doorway.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Himself - Magician and Magic Historian: My expertise is in deception. The thing that sets magicians apart from con men, and other kinds of thieves and liars, is that we are honest liars. It's the moral contract.

User Reviews

Entertaining and engaging and does a great job of illuminating the issue

I made the mistake of reading the user reviews before watching and was expecting a mediocre film. Thankfully it was much better than expected. I found it to be thoroughly interesting and entertaining while doing a great job of detailing the depth of scumbaggery and deception behind the climate change denialist movement.

The imagery, interview editing, flow of the narrative, choice of people to interview, camera work were all outstanding. I highly recommend that anyone who is not already committed to denialism watch it. Some might find some parts shocking but overwhelmingly the evidence points to the views expressed in this film being true.