Blu-ray Release: Merchants of Doubt

By John Corrado

Today, Sony Pictures Classics is releasing the excellent documentary Merchants of Doubt on Blu-ray.  The film fascinatingly explores how fake scientists and sleazy public relations firms are hired by companies and political parties to cover up potentially harmful truths, from the tobacco industry’s unscrupulous approach to keeping toxic cigarettes on the market, to governments downplaying the undeniable affects of climate change to get votes.

Based on the book of the same name by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, Merchants of Doubt uses an engaging editing style and sometimes satirical tone, including clever cutaways to a magician showing his slight of hand tricks, to lift the curtain on how corporate greed is manipulating what facts are presented to the public.  An urgent must see and a real eye opener, this is a gripping, compellingly researched and extremely important film, that will leave you feeling both illuminated and infuriated.  This is essential viewing, for everyone.

The Blu-ray includes deleted scenes, a commentary track with director Robert Kenner, and footage of the Q&A with him from last year’s TIFF.

Merchants of Doubt is 93 minutes and rated PG.