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IMDbPro

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

    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.
    8glindsay34

    Are you brainwashed?

    Popular folklore suggests that the people of North Korea were so successfully brainwashed that they believe that Kim Jong Un's father, when he was leader, beat Tiger Woods at a round of golf - including several 'hole-in-ones'. Whether the North Korean's fell for this story or not is hardly the point. The big questions are "Are you brainwashed?", "Why are you brainwashed?" and, "Who benefits from my brainwashing?".

    It would surprise many to be told that the brainwashing inflicted on the West is far worse than that inflicted on the North Koreans. It can be very harmful to those unable to see the damage being done, and especially harmful to the career of anyone who dares to speak out.

    The Pathological Optimist is one such story.

    8/10
    10nursewithpurse-980-275657

    Definite must see

    SO disappointed in DiNero and Tribeca for caving into pressures to quash Wakefield's story
    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.
    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!

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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

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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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