December 9, 2015 -- This is a shocking exposé on scientology, it's teachings and practices, especially its history of retaliation against its enemies. It is well documented with court records, interviews of ex-members and ex-officials, as well as numerous news video, photos and some re-enactments.

This film is directed by Alex Gibney (“Taxi the the Dark Side” and “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.” An argument isn't hard to make that Gibney is the best documentary filmmaker working today, especially when it comes to controversial subjects like this. The HBO, Emmy Award-winning film is based in part on Lawrence Wright's 2013 book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief.

This movie starts at the beginning with L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of scientology, who started writing pulp fiction in the 1930s, including numerous science fiction stories. According to the film, he's written more books than any other author. His most widely published book was about mental health, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” published in 1950.

Using a skin-resistence meter, described as “half of a lie detector,” Hubbard devised a way to convince people he was curing them of bad memories during a process called “auditing.” Eventually, Dianetics formed the basis of a religion, Scientology. The records of the auditing sessions became valuable information which was reportedly used by the church to manipulate people. The movie indicates that personal information the church gained about actor John Travolta was used to keep him in the church.

Hubbard's activities seem almost funny at times. The film indicates he may have had mental problems which led him to his ideas in creating Dianetics and Scientology. His brushes with the law included long-running disputes with the IRS. According to the film, he spent his final years in hiding. Scientology's IRS tax bill at one time was said to exceed $1 billion.

The film argues that Scientology, but its very nature, appeals to actors. It certainly seems to have helped John Travolta, at least early in his career. Scientology gained a foothold in the motion picture industry with stars like Tom Cruise and Travolta. Film Writer-Director Paul Haggis (“Crash”) appears on screen often in this movie since he was an early convert to Scientology and was in the church for many years. Haggis describes why he stayed in Scientology for so long, and why he finally got out.

Haggis got out when he reached the higher levels, and finally got to see the information kept secret from all but those who have progressed to the highest levels of the program, a bunch of silly stuff about alien beings and disembodied souls inhabiting bodies. Haggis saw this and realized he'd been duped. In total, eight former Scientologists tell about their experiences in the church, and why they left.

Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder, two former executives in the church, tell of the church's attacks on its enemies, the legal strategies the church used to pressure the IRS to declare it a religion, and how the head of the church, David Miscavige, was able to get, consolidate and maintain power after the death of L. Ron Hubbard.

And there is a lot of power. The church is run like a business. Although the number of followers has shrunk to perhaps 50,000, it is worth over $2 billion thanks to vast property holdings, it's tax exempt status and its exemption from normal types of employment rules.

The film also relates stories of physical abuse of some members, child neglect, and a recurring pattern of intimidation and coercion that are shocking in their extent. The more disturbing stories are told closer to the end of the film. This is one of the best documentary films of the year. It rates an A.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2015 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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