From paperback to celluloid, one of the best-selling books of the past decade debuts on the big screen in one of this year’s most highly anticipated documentaries. The book Freakonomics, by economist Steven D. Levitt and author Stephen J. Dubner, famously applied statistics and incentives to analyze human behaviors, which yielded surprising and controversial conclusions that years of psychology and moral philosophy had yet to reveal. Now a team of celebrated documentarians has turned the acclaimed book into a riveting cinematic experience.

Alex Gibney (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE) looks behind the fragile façade of sumo wrestling and exposes uncomfortable truths about this ancient and revered sport. Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME) examines the consequences of a name, and whether being dubbed Sheniqua, Tripp or Moon Unit has any effect on one’s future prospects. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (JESUS CAMP) explore whether money can be used to incentivize underachieving kids to pull up their grades in school. Finally, Eugene Jarecki (WHY WE FIGHT) investigates Levitt’s provocative theory as to why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early ’90s. Seth Gordon (THE KING OF KONG) weaves the pieces together with playful animation and commentary from the authors.

Like the book, FREAKONOMICS the film encourages us to reexamine the world we know as familiar and predictable, to reveal hidden truths lurking beneath the surface.

Post-screening conversation with filmmakers Alex Gibney, Rachel Grady, and Heidi Ewing

Print Source:
FREAKONOMICS
Magnolia Pictures
Matt Cowal
Tel: 212.924.6701
magpictures.com