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Four Games in Fall

Play trailer 0:47 Poster for Four Games in Fall 2017 1h 42m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts in January of 2015, NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was accused of intentionally deflating footballs to gain an advantage. The media frenzy that followed this allegation of cheating included months of front page news and culminated in Tom Brady's punishment which banned him from four games of the 2016 season for his role in the scheme. However, independent scientists from leading institutions across the country determined that there was no evidence of deflation outside of weather induced changes. Reports emerged that the NFL deliberately leaked false information about the data. Nationally renowned legal experts testified that the case was misrepresented in the legal battle that ensued. Despite the evidence that the controversy was rooted in an incident that never took place, public sentiment had solidified against Tom Brady, and he was branded a cheater. Through interviews with top scientists, journalists, and legal scholars, FOUR GAMES IN FALL peeks behind the curtain of the controversy to examine how the scandal was perpetrated using time-tested tactics of media manipulation and 'science for hire.' The film examines how the tactics used in the Deflategate controversy are frequently used to manipulate public opinion, enact regulation, and influence legal outcomes on important issues that impact the daily lives of average citizens. The film also explores the likely motivation for the scandal as a deflection from significant threats plaguing the league, including negative press over handling of domestic violent incidents and the existential threats of CTI and traumatic brain injury.

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Four Games in Fall

Critics Reviews

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Nick Rocco Scalia Film Threat 02/06/2021
7.5/10
For fans still harboring resentment from that brief, dark period in Patriots history, Four Games in Fall is can't-miss. Go to Full Review Nathaniel Muir AIPT 12/21/2020
A unique sports documentary that just does not cover one particular incident. It instead uses scientists and lawyers to dig deep into a manipulative cover up. Go to Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 12/16/2020
Uses interviews with officials, scientists and analysists to build up a complex story of half-truths, misinformation and obstruction. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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01/24/2021 It's an important film to watch BUT needs corrections for anyone seeking to truly understand the scandal. The film's claim that "the NFL deliberately leaked false information about the data" is untrue, as is the claim that the NFL gave the Patriots erroneous data, and the claim that the investigators under-appreciated the natural pressure losses. The NFL report and the movie omit witness observations of the Colts' balls having ~11.5 psi, down from 13, and the Patriots balls being under 11 psi at the very start of halftime. Those observations were the basis for the leaks. The NFL's early and honest mistake was ignorance of the recent rule change that allowed the Patriots to legally set their balls to 12.5 psi to start with vs. the 13 used by the Colts. Once the controversy took hold, and then the NFL figured out their mistake, the NFL did elect to frame the Patriots by not clarifying the leaks, but did not engage in science denial as the movie claims, but rather "witness denial." The later investigators hid and overruled massive amounts of witness testimony; all the lab tests were run in ways counter to multiple witness accounts about multiple things. The data was neither unreliable nor incomplete, which is fortunate because studying the NFL materials much deeper than the movie did produces an air-tight proof of innocence that renders moot all the circumstantial evidence against the Patriots that many reporters reasonably see as a making a strong case for cheating. Watch the movie to appreciate the general dishonesty of the NFL and the science-for-hire industry, but to truly know what really happened and the full depth of the trickery and dishonesty, generally perpetrated without outright lies, read the book "Catching the Accusers," which remains the only comprehensive analysis of Deflategate. See more 01/22/2021 Eye opening. Still doesn't completely add up to me why the NFL would want to smear the GOAT, but the science and false truth this documentary exposes is both compelling and scary. See more 01/22/2021 Great for fans of football, and fans of science. An enjoyable and informative film highlighting football skill with some insight into the world of elite athletes. See more 12/17/2020 New England Patriot fans will be intrigued by the premise of this documentary focusing on deflategate and science-for-hire. See more Read all reviews
Four Games in Fall

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Cast & Crew

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Julie Marron

Director

Jerry Thornton

Actor

Jane McManus

Actor

Robert Blecker

Actor

Atticus Marron

Actor

George Attallah

Actor
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Four Games in Fall

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Four Games in Fall

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts in January of 2015, NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was accused of intentionally deflating footballs to gain an advantage. The media frenzy that followed this allegation of cheating included months of front page news and culminated in Tom Brady's punishment which banned him from four games of the 2016 season for his role in the scheme. However, independent scientists from leading institutions across the country determined that there was no evidence of deflation outside of weather induced changes. Reports emerged that the NFL deliberately leaked false information about the data. Nationally renowned legal experts testified that the case was misrepresented in the legal battle that ensued. Despite the evidence that the controversy was rooted in an incident that never took place, public sentiment had solidified against Tom Brady, and he was branded a cheater. Through interviews with top scientists, journalists, and legal scholars, FOUR GAMES IN FALL peeks behind the curtain of the controversy to examine how the scandal was perpetrated using time-tested tactics of media manipulation and 'science for hire.' The film examines how the tactics used in the Deflategate controversy are frequently used to manipulate public opinion, enact regulation, and influence legal outcomes on important issues that impact the daily lives of average citizens. The film also explores the likely motivation for the scandal as a deflection from significant threats plaguing the league, including negative press over handling of domestic violent incidents and the existential threats of CTI and traumatic brain injury.
Director
Julie Marron
Producer
Ami Clifford, Lila Kerns
Screenwriter
Julie Marron
Production Co
Lemon Martini Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 23, 2020
Runtime
1h 42m
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