Movie spotlight
A Bad Situationist
It is May 2001 in a pre-9/11 world. Arthur Lieberman, a ne'er-do-well tennis instructor from West Palm Beach, is the son of losing Vice-President candidate Joe Lieberman. Arthur is so crazy that six months later he is still upset over the fraudulent 2000 presidential election. in an attempt to keep from "making waves" his father strikes a corrupt deal to land him in a fancy co-op apartment in New York City. Arthur's desperation for relevance and burning desire to appear on the Charlie Rose Show lead him to start an "Intellectual Salon". There, Arthur pleads with misfits, sluts, and drunks to vote him president of their group. Soon, Arthur is unwittingly inculcated by two radical Jewish zealot Postal workers to commit a terrorist attack. Hilarity ensues!
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary delves into the life and controversial methods of Dr. Paul Ekman, a pioneer in the study of emotions and their universal facial expressions. It explores his work with the CIA, his development of facial action coding, and his influence on fields ranging from psychology to law enforcement. The film questions the ethical implications and broader impact of Ekman's research.
Critical Reception
A Bad Situationist received mixed to positive reviews, with many critics acknowledging the fascinating subject matter and Ekman's significant contributions to psychology. However, some reviewers found the documentary's approach to be somewhat one-sided or lacking in deeper critical analysis of Ekman's more controversial theories and applications. Audiences generally found it to be an intriguing look at a complex figure.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for shedding light on the influential, yet often unheralded, work of Dr. Paul Ekman.
Criticized by some for not delving deeply enough into the ethical considerations of Ekman's research.
Offers a compelling look at the science of facial expressions and their real-world applications.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for this documentary is not readily available.
Fun Fact
Dr. Paul Ekman's research on microexpressions was famously used as inspiration for the character Dr. Lightman in the Fox series 'Lie to Me'.
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