(Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies

Filmmaker Yael Melamede's fascinating documentary addresses the contemporary epidemic of public cheating and dishonesty, from adulterous spouses to doped-up pro athletes to Iraq-invading politicians to corporate crooks (political scorekeepers may chafe at the textbook-case omission of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal). Academics and behaviorists—most prominently, Duke University scholar-author Dan Ariely—talk about various experiments and "behavioral economics" research undertaken regarding human deceit and rationalization, and their points are underscored with first-person narrative inserts featuring notorious unmasked liars (including two Wall Street insider traders, who were being sentenced as this was filmed). For every familiar charge (the first lie is the hardest; subsequent ones are easier), there are fresh revelations: cumulative sins of "small cheaters" hurt society more than the major crimes of big ones such as Bernie Madoff; bankers are statistically more dishonest than politicians; nations with stronger "social trust" (Scandinavia, specifically) are more successful than those harboring rampant suspicion (Africa, specifically). Extras include bonus interview clips with John McCain, Ashley Madison CEO Noel Biderman, and late documentarian Albert Maysles, as well as an atypical brochure insert—Etgar Keret's short story on the subject of falsehoods, "Lieland." Despite a somewhat perfunctory look at how lying and cheating are viewed outside of the USA (some attention is paid to India), this is a refreshingly systematic examination of an important behavioral subject. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)