Synopsis
GOING CLEAR intimately profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a light on how they attract true believers and the things they do in the name of religion.
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Cast
- Paul HaggisSelf - Interviewee
- Jason BegheSelf - Interviewee
- Alex GibneyNarrator (voice)
- Lawrence WrightSelf - Interviewee
- Sherry StringfieldSara Northrup (voice)
- Tom CruiseSelf (archive footage)
- John TravoltaSelf (archive footage)
- Katie HolmesSelf (archive footage)
- Nancy CartwrightSelf (archive footage)
- Kirstie AlleySelf (archive footage)
Recommendations
- 100
Entertainment Weekly
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. - 90
The Hollywood Reporter
This impeccably assembled and argued film represents a brave, timely intervention into debates around the organization that have been simmering for some time. - 90
Variety
For Scientologists, going clear refers to a coveted status awarded to those who have completed a certain level of auditing. But for the men and women on screen here, it means something else: reclaiming their own voices and demanding to be heard. - 88
RogerEbert.com
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. - 83
IndieWire
Going Clear delivers an efficient overview of Scientology's dark history with a cohesive focus on the precision of its corrupt motives. - 83
The Playlist
Ultimately, Gibney's film is fascinating for the people in it. The filmmaking is nothing exceptional, but what is remarkable is the bravery shown by those who speak out in the film. - 80
New York Magazine (Vulture)
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. - 80
Time Out
For a group with property assets in the billions, it’s a major piece of the puzzle, revealing a critical failing: For a religion with so much to give, why do they do so little for so few?
