“There’s little in Freakonomics that isn’t provocative, compelling or slightly perverse, but such is its attraction. Tech credits are tops, notably the animation employed throughout.” John Anderson writing on Variety.com
The documentary, based on the bestselling book of the same name, was made by six documentary filmmakers who try to dissect human behaviour by using statistics to either prove a point, or debunk a myth. The directors of Freakonomics are Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney (Casino Jack and the Unites States of Money), Oscar® nominees Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp), Oscar® nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) and Seth Gordon (The King of Kong).
The popular non-fiction book has sold more than four million copies since it was published in 2005. The film is a “pop culture meets economics” take on a variety of topical subjects: from the socio-economic ramifications of babies being given certain names to corruption in sumo wrestling; from a controversial link between the rise in abortion rates and a drop in crime levels; to how offering financial incentives (aka bribes) to under-achieving school children can help improve their marks.
“While ‘for dummies’ comes to mind more than once during the docu ominibus Freakonomics, this frisky adaptation of the Steven Levitt-Stephen Dubner bestseller on human behavior by the numbers adds up to a revelatory trip into complex, innovative ideas and altered perspectives on how people think,” Anderson said in his Variety.com review.
Conventional wisdom is challenged and startling new theories are proposed in Freakonomics. Be sure not to miss this entertaining documentary at selected Ster-Kinekor and Cinema Nouveau theatres nationwide … it will leave you feeling both enlightened and entertained.
Ster-Kinekor is offering TheMediaOnline readers five hampers of the Freakonomics books. The hamper comprises two books: Freakonomics as well as SuperFreakonomics.
To be eligible to win, answer this question: Who directed The King of Kong and is one of six directors of Freakonmics?
Send your answer to editor@themediaonline.co.za before Friday, April 8, at 4pm.
Visit www.sterkinekor.com to find out more about show times, prices and booking details.