Merchants of Doubt
Directed by Robert Kenner & Kim Roberts
Directed by Robert Kenner
USA, 2014
Watching the new documentary Merchants of Doubt is fascinating and infuriating in equal measure. On the one hand, this is an entertaining examination of American spin doctors and their impact on public opinion. On the other hand, it paints a bleak picture for the prospects of ever neutralizing their impact. Still, Robert Kenner’s creation has enough gallant heroes, despicable villains, and ideological intrigue to rival any political thriller. It’s a fast-paced tutorial on the politics of punditry.
Politically-charged documentaries like Merchants of Doubt can take one of two possible approaches; preach to the choir, or seek new converts from outside the congregation. Writer-director Robert Kenner chooses the latter approach, with varying degrees of success. He insinuates that everyone, regardless of political preference, suffers from the deliberate spread of misinformation. Kenner visually traces the history...
Directed by Robert Kenner & Kim Roberts
Directed by Robert Kenner
USA, 2014
Watching the new documentary Merchants of Doubt is fascinating and infuriating in equal measure. On the one hand, this is an entertaining examination of American spin doctors and their impact on public opinion. On the other hand, it paints a bleak picture for the prospects of ever neutralizing their impact. Still, Robert Kenner’s creation has enough gallant heroes, despicable villains, and ideological intrigue to rival any political thriller. It’s a fast-paced tutorial on the politics of punditry.
Politically-charged documentaries like Merchants of Doubt can take one of two possible approaches; preach to the choir, or seek new converts from outside the congregation. Writer-director Robert Kenner chooses the latter approach, with varying degrees of success. He insinuates that everyone, regardless of political preference, suffers from the deliberate spread of misinformation. Kenner visually traces the history...
- 3/26/2015
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
Chicago – Magician James Randi, or “The Amazing Randi,” has a made a legacy in using his love of magic to show audiences how they’re being tricked by evangelists, spoon-benders, psychics, etc. A ruthlessly charming Houdini-wannabe with instant showman charisma, he exists as the humbling gravity to a world that can convince itself that unattainable answers are to be found in ideas beyond science.
When someone claims that they’re able to talk to spirits from over 35,000 years ago, or can push a pen with extreme focus and the wave of their hand, Randi shows up at the scene, and throws down with logic at his side. It often happens on the stage of talk shows, whether it’s Johnny Carson or Larry King, and it’s glorious. He never loses. In a world where a sucker is indeed born every minute, he’s a hero as much as he is a necessity.
When someone claims that they’re able to talk to spirits from over 35,000 years ago, or can push a pen with extreme focus and the wave of their hand, Randi shows up at the scene, and throws down with logic at his side. It often happens on the stage of talk shows, whether it’s Johnny Carson or Larry King, and it’s glorious. He never loses. In a world where a sucker is indeed born every minute, he’s a hero as much as he is a necessity.
- 3/19/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
In this episode, I chat with magician & skeptic Jamy Ian Swiss about magic, method, and mystery.
Be sure to visit his official site at www.JamyIanSwiss.com.
Hope you enjoy…
Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Jamy Ian Swiss“:
Subscribe
Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
##
Drop Ken a line Here.
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You can also find more of my interviews at Fred by clicking Here, and my personal interview archive at Tibby’s Bowl by clicking Here.
In this episode, I chat with magician & skeptic Jamy Ian Swiss about magic, method, and mystery.
Be sure to visit his official site at www.JamyIanSwiss.com.
Hope you enjoy…
Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Jamy Ian Swiss“:
Subscribe
Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
##
Drop Ken a line Here.
##
You can also find more of my interviews at Fred by clicking Here, and my personal interview archive at Tibby’s Bowl by clicking Here.
- 1/24/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Listen, dear readers, I'm going to level with you: I have a headache, I still have to pack for my train ride tomorrow and find knitting supplies to keep myself busy for the 17 hours I'll be spending on said train, and it's been a long week already. I will make up for the lack of introduction at a later date. Here's your Wednesday night TV:
8:00pm: "Human Target" on Fox
"Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Natalie Cole and David McCullough" on PBS
"The Sing-Off" on NBC
"Survivor" on CBS
9:00pm: "Criminal Minds" on CBS
"Friday Night Lights" on DirecTV
"Hell's Kitchen" on Fox. 8th season finale.
"Third Reich: The Fall" on History
"I'll Do Anything" on Bbca
"Man vs. Food: Carnivore Chronicles 8: Magnificence of Meatiness" on Travel
"Mythbusters" on Discovery. It's a Green Hornet special, which sounds totally lame to me but that's probably because...
8:00pm: "Human Target" on Fox
"Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Natalie Cole and David McCullough" on PBS
"The Sing-Off" on NBC
"Survivor" on CBS
9:00pm: "Criminal Minds" on CBS
"Friday Night Lights" on DirecTV
"Hell's Kitchen" on Fox. 8th season finale.
"Third Reich: The Fall" on History
"I'll Do Anything" on Bbca
"Man vs. Food: Carnivore Chronicles 8: Magnificence of Meatiness" on Travel
"Mythbusters" on Discovery. It's a Green Hornet special, which sounds totally lame to me but that's probably because...
- 12/15/2010
- by Intern Rusty
We lost a television legend today, and there's really no entertaining spin on that. Everything that needs to be said has already been said far more eloquently than I could ever manage. I will say that it seems a little unfair that the generation prior to mine had "The Golden Girls" in their formative years, whereas my generation had "Sex in the City." Here's Thursday night's TV:
8:00pm: "ABC Sports Special: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night" on ABC. Special presentation.
"So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox. New two hour episode. I was talking about this with a friend last night; I really like it in that there's a lot of real talent on display, but hate that about 70% of the show is people talking, rehearsal footage, interviews, and other things that aren't people dancing. I might just DVR it so I can fast-forward through all the useless crap.
8:00pm: "ABC Sports Special: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night" on ABC. Special presentation.
"So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox. New two hour episode. I was talking about this with a friend last night; I really like it in that there's a lot of real talent on display, but hate that about 70% of the show is people talking, rehearsal footage, interviews, and other things that aren't people dancing. I might just DVR it so I can fast-forward through all the useless crap.
- 6/3/2010
- by Intern Rusty
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