Gibney and Magnolia Association Continues with ‘Freakonomics’

Something tells me today’s Magnolia Pictures pick-up was already a done deal type of announcement – I say this because with the exception of his Oscar-winning doc that THINKFilm ceremoniously short-changed Alex Gibney, the distributor and the doc filmmaker have had a great working relationship. The deal comes on the heels of the recent mention that Freakonomics, will close this year’s edition of Tribeca, I was thinking that the doc film’s producers would use the festival as a find the highest bidder sort of launch-pad, but that wasn’t the case. Plans are for a Fall release, and I imagine several film festival stops along the way, including Silverdocs in June. Read the synopsis below to see who the dream team of working U.S documentary filmmakers that this project called upon.

Written by Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, “Freakonomics” has sold more than 3 million copies by using economic theories to analyze issues. Take five of the most successful documentary directors working in Hollywood today, match them to the most compelling chapters from a worldwide best selling piece of non fiction and you have Freakonomics the movie. Freakonomics is economic detective work, social theory and investigative journalism all at their most compelling and it is deeply unorthodox in its approach. Ever wondered what sumo wrestlers and Chicago school teachers had in common? Oscar winner Alex Gibney will show you the way. Tune in to see Morgan Spurlock prove the link between our names and our financial destiny. Witness Oscar nominated Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing debunk even the most basic assumptions about what it is that really makes a good parent. And watch Sundance winner Eugene Jarecki prove the link between the legalisation of abortion and the reduction of crime in 1990’s America. Ever inventive and not for the faint of heart, Freakonomics the movie is sure to build on the international success of the book. Seth Gordon weaves the pieces together with brisk interludes, providing context and commentary from the authors.”