Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—both famous and less well known—and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright … He collaborated with Wright, who came on board as a producer, to explore the book's underlying theme of "how people become prisoners of faith in various ways". MCU fans, here are some streaming picks to watch while you wait for the next episode of "The Falcon and the Winter Solider.". Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The story of Theranos, a multi-billion dollar tech company, its founder Elizabeth Holmes, the youngest self-made female billionaire, and the massive fraud that collapsed the company. [7] According to the film, actress Nicole Kidman was targeted for wiretapping by Scientology in an effort to break her marriage to Tom Cruise after she was labeled a "potential trouble source" by the church;[8] whereas Travolta has been forced to stay in the church in fear that secrets from his personal life will be exposed. Use the HTML below. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a 2015 documentary film about Scientology. The State of Clear has been a major goal of Scientology counseling (known as auditing) since the very first texts on the subject when L. Ron Hubbard published the book Dianetics in 1950. [15] The audience gave Going Clear a standing ovation in an unusual occurrence for a Sundance presentation. A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. [10], Gibney began working on Going Clear in 2013 after becoming intrigued by Wright's book. Search for "Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief" on Amazon.com, Title: I couldn’t put it down. What is most frightening though is the lengths Scientology will go to to protect its image. "[36] The BBC's Owen Gleiberman praised it as "the most exciting – and disturbing – work of cinematic non-fiction in a long time" and awarded Going Clear five stars, describing it as having "the scary intensity of a thriller. Directed by Alex Gibney. With Paul Haggis, Jason Beghe, Spanky Taylor, David Miscavige. [52] A few weeks after the film's TV première, Paul Haggis reported that a suspected Scientology spy posing as a reporter for Time had attempted to interview him in a possible attempt to obtain material to use against him; the Church denied the claim. It instantly received widespread praise from movie critics and was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, winning three, which included Best Documentary. "[35], Writing in The Guardian, Brian Moylan described Going Clear as "entertaining and dismaying viewing" in which "the story of Scientology, with all its strange players, emerges as comedy, rather than horror," but criticised its reliance on a small group of defectors and the lack of any involvement by the church. Gibney subsequently said that he was grateful for the church's advertising, as it had attracted much publicity for the film; he only wished "they'd put in showtimes." Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Watch Going Clear, the original HBO documentary online at HBO.com or stream on your own device. Apparently everything went wrong from the beginning, the founder having no self-criticism and no objective distance to what he was doing, but simply himself first of all falling a victim to the delusions of his own science fiction fantasies. Going Clear is based closely on Lawrence Wright's book, covering much of the same ground with the aid of archive footage, dramatic reconstructions, and interviews with eight former Scientologists:[1][2] Paul Haggis, an Oscar-winning film director; Mark Rathbun, the church's former second-in-command; Mike Rinder, the former head of the church's Office of Special Affairs; actor Jason Beghe; Sylvia "Spanky" Taylor, former liaison to John Travolta; and former Scientologists Tom DeVocht, Sara Goldberg, and Hana Eltringham Whitfield. What the State of Clear Is. Clear is the name of a state achieved through auditing and describes a being who no longer has his own reactive mind, the hidden source of irrational behavior, unreasonable fears, upsets and insecurities.Without a reactive mind, individuals regain their basic personality, self-determinism and, in essence, become much, much more themselves. Not only did it effectively provide free advertising for the film, but its hostility had made HBO Documentary Films even more determined to produce the film: "I thought, 'They really don't want us to do it. Add the first question. A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham. [11] He commented that he "found it interesting that universally this subject — more than any other — provoked all the networks to decline to license. The head of HBO Documentary Films, Sheila Nevins, commented that when she saw the ad… Sure, documentaries about small cults can be a fascinating case study, but Scientology … [30], Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes collected 87 reviews as of September 24, 2015, of which 94% were positive. "[12], Explaining why he chose to make a film about Scientology, Gibney told Reuters that he considered it "an important topic. "[52] Among those targeted were Mike Rinder and the journalist Tony Ortega,[53] both interviewees in the film. Documentary "Going Clear" examines Church of Scientology An upcoming HBO documentary has sparked months of controversy. Was this review helpful to you? Alex Gibney gathers all necessary information to show us just how evil this "religion" is, complete with archive footages and interviews from former Scientology members, such as Oscar-winner Paul Haggis, among others. "[47] Paul Haggis, who was labeled "doughy" and "pasty" by the church, likewise felt that the attacks were backfiring: "You don't think that makes you look really bad trying to slander me in that way? Several members of the documentary branch reported receiving approaches from the Church's magazine Freedom in connection with a planned profile of Gibney. It received widespread praise from critics and was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, winning three, including Best Documentary. The church's campaign included producing an anti-Gibney film and approaches to members of the Academy's documentary branch, responsible for selecting contenders for the awards. A documentary looking at the inner-workings of the Church of Scientology. Journalist David Farrier stumbles upon a mysterious tickling competition online. He suggested that a sequel to Going Clear might be in the works: "There's a lot more material already that I've received, more to come out — and so far the IRS has not revoked its [tax-exemption] protection so there’s a lot more to be done.". Ten days before the film's premiere, the Church of Scientology took out full-page advertisements in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times to denounce Going Clear, comparing it to the story "A Rape on Campus" published by Rolling Stone magazine. Alex Gibney explores the charged issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, following a trail from the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the United States and all the way to the Vatican. The Wall Street Journal described it as "the hottest ticket" at the festival. [20] Vimeo has acquired the US rights for online distribution from September 2015. Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case For Reasonable Doubt? Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief subtitles. [40] Gibney praised the "courageous support" of HBO executives and the "courage of witnesses who stood up against ... the human rights abuses" of Scientology. But then, they don't seem terribly aware that attacking everyone who criticizes you doesn't do a lot of good for your image. This FAQ is empty. "[6] Lesley Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter characterized it as an "impeccably assembled and argued film" that "represents a brave, timely intervention into debates around the organization that have been simmering for some time. Reviews There are … I think at the end of the day, that tells you more about Scientology than it does about the networks, which is how ruthless they've been in trying to silence any criticism. He predicted that "their campaign against the film is going to be the best publicity that Alex Gibney and company could ever hope for, if also a hassle for critics and filmmakers and (this is no small thing) a nightmare for the ex-CoS members who dared to speak out against the Church's practices. The Church of Scientology successfully blocked the publication or distribution of the original book Going Clear in the UK and Ireland and indicated a willingness to sue broadcasters, saying in a statement that it "will be entitled to seek the protection of both UK and Irish libel laws in the event that any false or defamatory content in this film is broadcast within these jurisdictions. A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall. Church of Scientology International v. Time Warner, Inc., et al. There are a number of documentaries about this having accumulated since the 60s, but the phenomenon is that each new documentary reveals new more shocking facts about the business and its mentality than the previous ones, apparently because the material is still accumulating. It was the first time that HBO had tackled Scientology directly, though not the first time it had clashed with the church; in 1998, protesters mounted demonstrations outside HBO's headquarters because of a documentary that presented anti-depressant drugs, which are fiercely opposed by Scientology, in a positive light. He commented that the church did not seem to realise that film critics do not usually try to interview people for reviews, and noted how neatly it "comports with the film's portrayal of the Church as a hive of shady, paranoid control freaks. [54] The names of Saldarriaga's clients were not revealed and prosecutors declined to pursue action against anyone else, citing a lack of evidence. [45] Gibney subsequently said that he was grateful for the church's advertising, as it had attracted much publicity for the film; he only wished "they'd put in showtimes. 4,455 reviews A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the now-classic study of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, the Looming Tower. As Alex Gibney's documentary Going Clear opens around the country, the Church of Scientology is making its final stand against the film in the form of … comment. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, film review: Chilling inside views on a secretive church (15) Alex Gibney, 119 mins "[4] Sasha Bronner of the Huffington Post called the film a "shocking and eye-opening" work that would leave those who did not know much about Scientology "spellbound. "[50] In March 2015, a New York private investigator named Eric Saldarriaga pleaded guilty to the federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer hacking after he illegally gained access to at least 60 email accounts on behalf of undisclosed clients,[51] one of the main ones reportedly being "someone who has done investigations on behalf of the Church of Scientology. The Sydney Film Festival was among those threatened but the screening of Going Clear went ahead; Gibney declared himself to be "delighted with the way the Australians handled it. Lawrence Wright's Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief looks at the world of the controversial church and the life of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986. Going Clear, however, suggests a dramatic difference between auditing and traditional therapy: it claims that the Church of Scientology holds on … [41] On December 1, the film was selected as one of 15 shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The state of Clear is reached when a person becomes free of the influence of engrams, unwanted emotions or painful traumas not readily available to the conscious mind. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [21], The film sold worldwide but was scheduled only for non-theatrical release in most countries. The film was nominated in the categories for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming, Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming, Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming (single or multi-camera) and Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming (single or multi-camera). And I've made many, many mistakes in my life. "[56], Indiewire's Max O'Connell criticised the church's approach for being counterproductive. '"[46], Following the film's success at the Emmys, the church was reported to have mounted an aggressive campaign to deny it recognition at the Oscars. In Dianetics and Scientology, Clear is one of the major states practitioners strive to reach on their way up the Bridge to Total Freedom. "[5] The head of HBO Documentary Films, Sheila Nevins, commented that when she saw the advertisements she knew that Going Clear would be a big success: "Docs don’t get full page ads, and when they do, they do really well. "[31] Metacritic gave the film a score of 80/100 based on 11 critics, indicating "Generally favorable reviews". "[34] Screen Daily's Anthony Kaufman felt that some of the re-enactments in the film were "heavy-handed or sensationalistic," but commended it overall as "a serious, strange and unsettling account of brainwashing, greed and gross misuses of power. City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal, Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen, Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province, The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner, 50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop, Mariela Castro's March: Cuba's LGBT Revolution, Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper, Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends), May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers, At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth Vs. Michelle Carter, After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Going_Clear_(film)&oldid=997905232, Television controversies in the United States, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 January 2021, at 20:31. [1] The première was so popular that even those with tickets were unable to find seats, because so many VIP pass-holders chose to watch the film, displacing ordinary festival-goers. Scientology is laid bare by a film that skilfully knits together archive footage, testimonials from former high ranking officials and public, and dramatic reconstructions. "[28], The film eventually received a low-key release in June 2015 in 18 theaters in England and Scotland. That's the part that's really heartbreaking. AKA: Going Clear. [17][18], HBO broadcast the television première of Going Clear on March 29, 2015. [1] It attracted numerous celebrities and media figures, including actors Alec Baldwin and Tobey Maguire, comedian Jason Sudeikis, and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. "[13] Gibney, Wright, and the former Scientologists who appeared in the film told a post-screening question-and-answer session that they hoped the film would raise public awareness about the alleged abuses committed by the Church of Scientology, and would prompt the media and law enforcement agencies to investigate further. Going Clear illustrates Scientology’s clever appropriation of the venerable cult technique of constant questioning. [58], Campaign against film interviewees and critics, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay, "Sundance Festival: Alex Gibney's Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear' Is a Hit", "Documentary Draws Ire From the Church of Scientology", "Alex Gibney, Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief", "Sundance 2015 review: Going Clear – Scientology film preaches to converted", "Sundance 2015: Scientology Documentary Draws Crush of Festgoers", "Sundance Film Review: 'Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief, "Sundance First Look: Oscar winner Alex Gibney pulls back curtain on Scientology", "Scientology Doc 'Going Clear' Claims the Church Split Up Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman", "Scientology doc 'Going Clear' shocks Sundance filmgoers", "HBO's Pending Scientology Documentary Investigates Church's Hold On Hollywood Stars", "Alex Gibney on Going Clear, His Scientology Documentary That's the Talk of Sundance", "The Challenges Of Making A Scientology Documentary, According To 'Going Clear' Director", "The horrible things a new documentary says about Tom Cruise and Scientology", "Scientology movie 'Going Clear' creates buzz at Sundance Film Festival", "HBO is putting their smash Scientology doc Going Clear back in theaters", "HBO to Re-release Scientology Documentary 'Going Clear' in Theaters", "Scientology Exposé 'Going Clear' Is HBO's Biggest Doc Premiere in Almost a Decade", "Going Clear on pace to be HBO's second-most-watched documentary", "Scientologists pressured Sydney Film Festival to ban film", Kontroversiel film om Scientology i 'DR2 Dokumania', going clear: scientology & the prison of belief, "Going Clear, il documentario sui segreti di Scientology - Video", "TV 'exposure' of Scientonlogy halted by UK & Irish libel law split", "Scientology Doc 'Going Clear' Draws 88,000 Overnight Viewers on U.K.'s Sky", "Scientology film Going Clear is Sky's most-watched documentary since 2012", "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief", "What Sundance Favorite Going Clear Tells Us About Scientology", "Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief", "Sundance So Far: More On The Juicy Scientology Doc Everyone Is Talking About", "Going Clear is a 'must-see' Scientology documentary", "SNL Finally Sends Up Scientology in the Sing-Along "Neurotology" Music Video", "Emmy nominations 2015: Complete list of nominees", "Creative Arts Emmys 2015: Full Winners List", "15 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES ADVANCE IN 2015 OSCAR® RACE", "2016 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced", "Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief (HBO)", "Church of Scientology sets up online response to 'Going Clear' doc", "Here's the moment HBO knew its Scientology doc 'Going Clear' would be a huge hit", "Church of Scientology Representatives Now Bullying Film Critics", "Canadian ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis hopes 'Going Clear' is opening eyes", "Sundance: 'Going Clear' Creators Say Tom Cruise Should Speak Out Against Scientology's Abuses", "Investigator Admits Guilt in Hiring of a Hacker", "Hired Hacker Who Named Clients Now Fears Retaliation", "Prison Term Sought for Private Eye Who Hacked Email", "Private investigator snooped on e-mail of Scientology critics [Updated]", "Report: Scientology spy pretending to be a Time reporter tries to interview Paul Haggis", "Church of Scientology targets film critics over Going Clear documentary", "Oscar voters tell THR they have been targeted by the church as screenings prompt fights and police probe the mysterious apparent suicide of Jim Carrey's girlfriend", "Oscar Nominations: Scientology Doc 'Going Clear' Shut Out", Spotlight shines on controversial Scientology documentary, Alex Gibney and Lawrence Wright on the Challenges of Making 'Going Clear', 'Going Clear' Documentary Exposes The Church of Scientology: Sundance Short Cuts, Lawrence Wright and Alex Gibney on Scientology and 'Going Clear', Alex Gibney interview: journey into the seductive world of Scientology, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Casino Jack and the United States of Money, Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Church of Scientology editing on Wikipedia, Church of Scientology of California v. Armstrong, Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz. Going Clear Scientology And The Prison Of Belief (2015 1080p) Topics Goingclear, scientology. [4], To support its thesis, the film utilises footage of ex-Scientologists harassed and surveilled (per Hubbard's dictum that the church's critics were all criminals whose crimes needed to be exposed),[5] and describes the imprisonment of senior Scientology executives in a facility known as "The Hole";[6] one Scientologist was said to have been forced to clean a bathroom with his tongue. It also received a 2015 Peabody Award and won the award for Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. According to Alex Gibney, "Every step of the way, every distributor, every festival has received multiple threatening letters from the Church of Scientology. [5] HBO had earlier said that it had put "probably 160 lawyers" onto the task of reviewing the film in anticipation of challenges from the notoriously litigious church.

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