By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Alex Gibney
Country: united_states
Year: 2015
Running time: 119
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4257858/combined
Kyle says: “Many fans of the definitive turn of the century pop culture phenomenon SOUTH PARK point easily to one classic episode against which all else is measured: ‘Trapped in the Closet’ from November 2005. Stan is suspected of being the reincarnation of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and is visited by awestruck Scientologist Tom Cruise, whose acting skill is belittled, and so he locks himself in the bedroom closet. Visits from R. Kelly and John Travolta fail to move him, and finally Nicole Kidman is summoned, saying, ‘Tom, It’s Nicole. Tom, please come out of the closet!’ The episode includes Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s animated precis of Scientology’s alien history using Hubbard’s own words, as well as a challenge to the famously litigious and antagonistic Church of Scientology: ‘So sue me!’ Everyone in the end titles is named either John Smith or Jane Smith.
“The extensive scenes in GOING CLEAR dealing with challenges to Scientology’s tax-exempt status, and the corresponding use of legal harassment by its lawyers to stifle challenges to its authority, are both infuriating and spell-binding. As are scenes of Scientology Chairman of the Board David Miscavige announcing Scientology’s many triumphs, bearing a striking resemblance to Joseph Goebbels but more physically appealing, fitted out in gold braid and surrounded on stage by regalia worthy of a celebration by adherents of National Socialism.
“Writer/director Alex Gibney, who received an Academy Award for his timely and definitive exposure of the U.S. using torture in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo, called TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (2007), was not only the right choice to adapt Lawrence Wright’s book to the screen, but also the man in the right place at the right time to target the chink in the arrogant armor of the combative Church of Scientology. There are echoes in the strategy and tactics of opposing forces, particularly of bullies versus underdogs, in two recent major documentaries, CITIZENFOUR and THE CASE AGAINST 8.
“Nonetheless, it is the rare footage of science fiction novelist (BATTLEFIELD EARTH from 2000 is probably the worst movie of Scientologist John Travolta’s lengthy career.) and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard that makes GOING CLEAR a compelling documentary experience. Based equally in aspects of science fiction and tenets of Eastern philosophies, Scientology ultimately comes off as the ravings of a lunatic version of P.T. Barnum in the gently guttural growling of L. Ron Hubbard, whose elusive essence was captured brilliantly in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s greatest performance as THE MASTER for Paul Thomas Anderson.
“I was particularly riveted by the brief mentions of the Sea Organization, since I spent a summer as a feckless hippie working on the Apollo, cruising up and down the coast of Morocco, considerably more interested in the ancient wonders of Agadir, Safi, and Rabat than in being a dutiful Scientologist. The onboard suicide of a young woman in a doomed love affair, and subsequent “scrubbing” of the Scientology ship’s day-to-day activities for Moroccan police inspection, as well as the iniquitous disgrace and removal of a ship officer for an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy, ended my brief foray into Scientology. But at least I can say I climbed the mast of the Apollo and met L. Ron Hubbard.
“The missing mention of Hubbard’s children in GOING CLEAR sent me to Google, since the teenage Quentin Hubbard was an acquaintance during my time on the Apollo. Having been told years ago that Quentin died tragically in a motorcycle accident, I was shocked to read that he had committed suicide in 1976 under mysterious circumstances outside Las Vegas, that he had harbored a certain confusion about his sexual orientation, and that he had become an embarrassment to his father, for whom homosexuality, drug addiction, and psychiatry were three of the greatest evils to afflict civilization. The symmetry of this haunts me each time I watch excerpts from GOING CLEAR, and reminds me that once again, truth is so much stranger than fiction. 4 cats
“Wednesday, August 5, 2015, on HBO, New York”
Julie says: “Fascinating and creepy film for sure. I just had no idea! I would also say that so much is unbelievable (until you see and hear it presented in a most credible way!) That’s all I’ll say as I don’t like to spoil things. But this is a MUST SEE!
“I only take away a few points after reading Kyle’s review that points out there’s no mention of the later years of Hubbard’s children as well as other things left out that seem should have been added. On the other hand there’s so much that happened, so much to present, I think the main idea was presented quite well.”