Plot
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.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 7.2/10 (136 voted)
Critic's Score: 73/100
Director: Robert Kenner
Stars: Frederick Singer, Naomi Oreskes, Jamy Ian Swiss
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.
Cast: Patricia Callahan -
Matthew Crawford -
Stanton A. Glantz -
James Hansen -
Himself
Katharine Heyhoe -
Bob Inglis -
Himself
Michael Mann -
Marc Morano -
Bill O'Keefe -
Naomi Oreskes -
John Passacantando -
Tim Phillips -
Sam Roe -
Himself
Benjamin Santer -
Michael Shermer -
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 12 December 2014
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 6/10
I saw "Merchants of Doubt" recently at the TIFF festival, and would
recommend watching it, as it an engaging, well-structured and
well-paced look at the politics of climate change… from one
perspective.
Robert Kenner, of Food, Inc. fame, focuses "Merchants of Doubt" on the
politics of climate change, and the individuals and corporations
responsible for helping shape public opinion. The film integrates
recent history, similar industries and interviews with a wide-range of
members, exceptionally-well. Kenner, I believe, would make an excellent
teacher on how to produce documentaries.
The major – and I mean major – downside of this film is that it is
incredibly one-sided. One review from We Got This Covered put it
exceptionally-well, which is that "As he tries to side his audience
against the skeptics, Kenner ends up using the same tactics that they
do." Kenner is "content to regurgitate the same facts again and again,
hoping his audience will be convinced enough to not want to hear the
other side."
If you are familiar with how politics works, then much of this is not
new. This is why it is surprising that someone of Kenner's pedigree
would not challenge the "tribal" system of climate change, instead,
taking a stance.
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