Each religion has its own negative or positive side, but there is one religion that has nothing good to offer, except going to be imprisoned by your beliefs. Alex Gibney`s Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a great example of how far a human being will go to manipulate another human being`s mind. With a two hour running time, Gibney`s film leaves a huge impression, a tremendous feeling of confusion, and the realization that it is possible to bring someone into a world where nothing good exists, and have them accept this as their new chance for better, clearer life.
Gibney`s film reveals some shocking details of how L. Ron Hubbard recruited people to his division, and made them prisoners of their own minds. It also reveals the cruel part of his life of how he used to abuse his wife and child. As the film progresses the viewer is immersed into the world of Scientology as told by the Award winning director/writer Paul Huggis, Marty Rathbun, and Jason Beghe, who probably was the most emotional interviewer in the film. But believe me, after hearing his story, I doubt if anyone of us would have reacted differently.
Gibney directs his film with a lot of anger, ensuring that whoever watches it learns how dangerous this religion is so that they will keep their mind clear and stay as far away from it as possible. As the film progresses, we find out more about the underpaid workers, and see through archive footage how Hubbard creates his army of believers, and how John Travolta was one of them…
And, the biggest surprise is yet to come when Gibney reveals some shocking footage of Tom Cruise, who is one of the leading stars in the world of Scientology, and how he helps to recruit more people into their church. Moreover, according to Marty Rathbun, Tom Cruise ordered Nicole Kidman`s phone to be wiretapped, and naming her father, Antony David Kidman as a suppressive person; and no wonder why, since Nicole Kidman` father was a psychologist…
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a gripping, shocking, and remarkable documentary film and after watching it you will not want it to end. After each scene, or after hearing a story, some of the viewers might find themselves speechless, or overwhelmed, as it truly is sad to see how some people allow themselves to believe in something that gives them almost no way out. In the end, there is a positive part to this film; it actually manages to make the audience smile and feel even more happy that they don`t belong to the brainwashed and insane community called Scientology.