X
- 2015
- TV-MA
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- 1 h 59 m
- 2015
- TV-MA
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- 1 h 59 m
Summary Alex Gibney profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, whose most prominent adherents include A-list Hollywood celebrities, shining a light on how the church cultivates true believers, including their experiences and what they are willing to do in the name of religion. The film covers a broad range of material from the c...
Directed By: Alex Gibney
Written By: Lawrence Wright, Alex Gibney
- 2015
- TV-MA
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- 1 h 59 m
- 2015
- TV-MA
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- 1 h 59 m
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
80
8.1
Where to Watch
Summary Alex Gibney profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, whose most prominent adherents include A-list Hollywood celebrities, shining a light on how the church cultivates true believers, including their experiences and what they are willing to do in the name of religion. The film covers a broad range of material from the c...
Directed By: Alex Gibney
Written By: Lawrence Wright, Alex Gibney
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
80
91% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
80
91% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
If Going Clear were a Hollywood thriller, I’d complain that it’s too over-the-top. But this is real life, which is hard to believe. And it’s disturbingly good.
This impeccably assembled and argued film represents a brave, timely intervention into debates around the organization that have been simmering for some time.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 71 User Ratings
8.1
93% Positive
66 Ratings
66 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
3% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 71 User Ratings
8.1
93% Positive
66 Ratings
66 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
3% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
A masterpiece of a documentary. I haven't heard of Scientology before, thus I cannot judge how deep the film went, but so far that it went it was as chilling as watching a documentary on **** Germany. This parallelization is also mentioned in the film for only a brief second, but it's very strong and accurate to ignore. Scientology should be indicted as a criminal organization and David Miscavige as leading a criminal organization, tax evasion and a dozen other obvious (in the documentary) crimes.
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Gibney crams as much material as possible into a quick two hours (he really knows how to edit and pace a piece like this one as it feels much shorter) and yet, to be fair, there’s still an angle missing just by virtue of the fact that he couldn’t get anyone from the Church of Scientology today on camera.
Going Clear delivers an efficient overview of Scientology's dark history with a cohesive focus on the precision of its corrupt motives.
Gibney’s a bit like a kid in an exposé-candy store here, and you can sense him trying to cram as much as he can into the film. Good for him: Going Clear is jaw-dropping. You wouldn’t really want it any other way.
Augmenting his talking heads with animation and inspired stock footage, Gibney dignifies Hubbard with the capacity to conjure feelings of connection and magnificence, never losing sight of what brings people into the fold, which makes their attempts to escape it all the more harrowing. Still, the richness of detail of Wright's book is lost.
Mr. Gibney, who enters swinging and keeps on swinging, comes across as less interested in understanding Scientology than in exposing its secrets, which makes for a lively and watchable documentary if not an especially enlightening one.
I've done enough Youtubing around in the Scientology topic to cover just about everything that's ever been said about Scientology. This documentary puts the nail on the coffin. Hopefully, Scientology can get buried with that coffin after this (they WILL crumble if the IRS removes their tax exemption and possibly slaps them with back taxes).
Initially I can understand how people got into Scientology to begin with. The whole auditing practice isn't really a bad thing. It's sound therapy actually that probably initially helped a lot of folks. It helps them build confidence and feel like they can accomplish a great many things. While that kind of therapy isn't limited to Scientology, I think (as was mentioned at some point in the documentary) that their success is directly attributed to Scientology itself, and not the person's own personal power and choices.
That's the "bait and switch" they talk about at the end. These people don't even know what the hell the ACTUAL myth behind Scientology's "religion" is until they manage to hit the upper echelon within the church. They are told the information could harm those not ready, so this crazy ass story (which makes PERFECT sense when you look at L. Ron Hubbard's extensive science fiction writing background) doesn't even reach newcomers. If more people got the gist of Scientology up front, they probably wouldn't even join to begin with.
Honestly, take one look at L. Ron Hubbard when they're speaking to him and tell me you don't see something wrong with that guy. You ever just look at someone, and KNOW they ain't right in the head? If you can't, you'd probably make a good candidate for Scientology.
I used to think John Travolta and Tom Cruise were big players for Scientology, and I realize after this documentary that notion is only PARTLY true. John Travolta clearly felt like his astounding success was a RESULT of the auditing therapy he received, which helped his confidence a great deal. I imagine the same goes for Tom Cruise. The reality is, these auditing sessions pry every nook and cranny of the subject, and they make sure to keep records of these sessions. Travolta and Cruise have every dirty little secret in their lives documented within the church of Scientology. Even if they wanted out, they risk their darkest secrets being exposed. They are nothing more than pawns for the agenda of Scientology. Who knows, they may even want out at this point.
This documentary sheds a much needed light, on a much needed screen. The inner workings of Scientology are absolutely inhumane and need to cease immediately. Our greatest hope at this point should be the IRS eliminating their **** religious tax exemption, and slapping back taxes for all those years they managed to scam the government and hundreds of thousands of people around the world. If the IRS does this, Scientology WILL crumble.
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Wow, a real eye opener. No wonder you keep hearing things about them. Tom Cruise comes off as someone not very deep. He is a engaging actor but it really makes you think. A bit Michael Moore like because it has one point of view... then again Scientology doesn't have anyone speaking for them that doesn't sound like anything but a robot. It was a bit creepy that all their trappings did have a bit **** in WWII look.
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This documentary was one of the best I've ever seen, and I watch A LOT of documentaries.
Anyone who likes Dawkins, Hitchens, or Maher (etc) will love this. About 30 mins in, your jaw will drop and stay there. Plus, John Travolta and Tom Cruise like you've never imagined!
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Disappointing, highbrow tabloid journalism. Has a strong start with decent background on the roots of Scientology, but too soon devolves into a lurid exposé of the weird, dark innards of the church, with far too much focus on "star" members such as Cruise and Travolta. In the end, you mostly have a big pile of guts with very little analysis. Virtually none from professionals in religious studies, psychology, etc. While decrying the church's manipulative tactics and ends/means brutality, this film resorts far too often to the same methods in making its points. That said, if you know little of Scientology, it's a good place to start learning, especially if you're thinking of joining. :-)
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Production Company
HBO Documentary Films,
Jigsaw Productions,
Sky Atlantic
Release Date Mar 13, 2015
Duration 1 h 59 m
Rating TV-MA
Genres
Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 3 Wins & 7 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 3 Nominations
