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The Pathological Optimist

  • 2017
  • TV-14
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
182
YOUR RATING
Andrew Wakefield in The Pathological Optimist (2017)
In the center of the recent Tribeca Film Festival scandal surrounding his film VAXXED: From Cover-up to Controversy stands Andrew Wakefield, discredited and stripped of his medical license for his infamous study suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine, bowel disease, and autism. THE PATHOLOGICAL OPTIMIST takes us into the inner sanctum of Wakefield and his family from 2011- 2016 as he fights for his day in court in a little known defamation case against the British Medical Journal. Wakefield attempts to clear his name as the media-appointed Father of the Anti-vaccine movement. Director Miranda Bailey weaves a delicate portrait of a man who is THE PATHOLOGICAL OPTIMIST utilizing a never-before-seen, full access look at the man at the center of one of the biggest medical and media controversies of our times.
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
3 Photos
BiographyDocumentary

In the center of the recent Tribeca Film Festival scandal surrounding his film VAXXED: From Cover-up to Controversy stands Andrew Wakefield, discredited and stripped of his medical license f... Read allIn the center of the recent Tribeca Film Festival scandal surrounding his film VAXXED: From Cover-up to Controversy stands Andrew Wakefield, discredited and stripped of his medical license for his infamous study suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine, bowel disease, and autism... Read allIn the center of the recent Tribeca Film Festival scandal surrounding his film VAXXED: From Cover-up to Controversy stands Andrew Wakefield, discredited and stripped of his medical license for his infamous study suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine, bowel disease, and autism. THE PATHOLOGICAL OPTIMIST takes us into the inner sanctum of Wakefield and his family fr... Read all

  • Director
    • Miranda Bailey
  • Stars
    • Andrew Wakefield
    • Carmel Wakefield
    • Brendan McBride
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    182
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Miranda Bailey
    • Stars
      • Andrew Wakefield
      • Carmel Wakefield
      • Brendan McBride
    • 11User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Trailer

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast22

    Edit
    Andrew Wakefield
    Andrew Wakefield
    • Self
    Carmel Wakefield
    • Self
    Brendan McBride
    • Self - Attorney
    William Parrish
    • Self - Attorney
    James Wakefield
    • Self
    Tim Wakefield
    • Self
    Bridget Wakefield
    • Self
    Jennifer Larson
    • Self
    Cade Larson
    • Self
    Imogen Wakefield
    • Self
    Corin Wakefield
    • Self
    Polly Tommey
    • Self
    • (as Polly Tommy)
    Mark F. Blaxill
    • Self
    Linda Johnson
    • Self
    Janice Miles
    • Self
    Louise Kuo-Habakus
    • Self
    Kim Mack Rosenberg
    • Self
    • (as Kim Mac Rosenberg)
    Dawn Loughborough
    • Self
    • Director
      • Miranda Bailey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    4.7182
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    Featured reviews

    3hungmosquito

    Portrait of an Egomaniac

    The director of this documentary wants you to feel some sympathy for Wakefield. This is a story of a self appointed revolutionary, a man who cares and has been hard done by via the vile medical establishment. In one way Bailey does make an argument for how these people can drive others to complete lunacy. Much like cult leaders the world over. In that respect this film is interesting.

    What I didn't much like was that this documentary neither deeply dives and informs of the truth of the subject or record the actual facts. I felt that at times it does pander to Wakefield and his stupid, selfish actions which he of course claims were done with the best of intentions. Saying that, I did watch it and found merit in what it tries to do.
    1outoutpatient

    Not a documentary, more of a puff piece

    Wakefield is given all the space in the world to garner sympathy and espouse his unscientific ideas without anything close to resembling an examination from this woefully poor filmmaker. Don't waste your time on this tripe.
    8harryokin

    Thoughtful and interesting.

    Having always felt really uncomfortable with the mass hysteria that follows Wakefield it's good to see a movie that at least puts some of the other side over. If he had an incentive to make his (the group's) research come to an answer where he might profit, the other side does times about a 1000. A great film to counterbalance the stifling of a rounded debate, not helped by universities denying Wakefield access to state case.
    9albertminero30

    A Must See Documentary

    If a documentary's purpose is to inform and record the truth's of a subject. The Pathological Optimist gets deep into the soul and the truth of Andrew Wakefield. This documentary follows Wakefield through the aftereffect of his own documentary Vaxxed which alleged that certain vaccines could be giving children autism. Andrew must continuously take up and battle against all of his critiques to clear his name and restore his credibility. Wakefield may have one of the most interesting faces the screen has ever seen. It feels that with every word and sentence formed you are seeing the inner workings of a man who knows his truth and his purpose but yet may be conflicted. The Pathological Optimist gives you a wonderful look into a man who is searching for the truth in more ways than one. A Wonderful Documentary!
    1judelrieu

    A puff piece with a hidden agenda

    I watched this out of curiosity, to see if the director *actually* tried to perform some sort of investigative documentary making around Wakefield dubious intentions and alarming practices.

    But no.

    Let's repeat this for gazillionth time : Vaccines. Do. Not. Cause. Autism. Snake oil doctors will prefer to continue to hustle to avoid jail.

    I really hope none of the viewers will do anything to harm their children, blinded by the safety of a dwindling herd immunity. Stay safe folks and avoid proagandocumentaries !

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Referenced in Vaccines and Autism: A Measured Response (2021)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Also known as
      • Pathological Optimist
    • Production company
      • Cold Iron Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,222
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,946
      • Oct 1, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,222
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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