Freakonomics Movie Review
Review by colesmithey
A compilation of four mini-documentary chapters, respectively directed by Morgan Spurlock, Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, and the duo of Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, “Freakonomics” is a mixed-bag adaptation of the popular book by Stephen J. Dubner and economist Steven D. Levitt. The charismatic authors supply humorous commentary spiced with personal anecdotes about their data-supported topics. Jarecki helms the segment, “It’s (Not Always) a Wonderful Life”; its link of the drop in crime across America during the early ’90s to the legalization of abortion in 1973 is fascinating. Fewer unwanted children, in other words, means fewer criminals. Unfortunately Morgan Spurlock drops the ball with his scattershot installment about the significance of baby names. Titled “A Roshanda by Any Other Name,” his segment looks at how your name helps determine your potential future economic achievement.
Review by canmag
Seth Gordon’s segments really convey the essence of the book. The authors explain each statistical phenomenon and they tell engaging stories. They lay out the difference between cause and correlation. They are so charismatic that there’s no other filmmaker gimmick that matches their inherent showmanship.
The Morgan Spurlock segment opens with a joke. It’s got really heightened recreation segments to illustrate the phenomenon, and animation and pop culture references. He either lucked out or smartly chose the most fun segment about how your name affects your success in life. Otherwise it relates the book’s chapter pretty exactly. Maybe the name Uneek is new. I don’t remember that one but it’s been a long time.
Review by dustinputman
An anthological documentary based on the best-selling book by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, “Freakonomics” misrepresents itself as being about “the hidden side of everything.” If the marketing campaign were more truthful, it would instead describe itself as “the hidden side of roughly six or seven things.” Four short-form docs bridged by transitional segments where authors Levitt and Dubner trade ideas and anecdotes about a few different subjects (i.e. cheating, incentives, cause and effect), the film is spotty and unfocused, never adding up to a complete or satisfying whole. By the end, don’t be surprised if you are still asking yourself what, exactly, the definition of freakonomics is.
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