My Scientology Movie does deliver some good laughs though it doesn’t really give much more insights into the organization than has already been examined with Going Clear.
My Scientology Movie
(2015)
Genre(s): Documentary, Comedy
Magnolia Home Entertainment | NR – 99 min. – $14.98 | May 7, 2019
Date Published: 04/23/2019 | Author: The Movieman
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THE MOVIE — 3.25/5 |
| Scientology has always been a controversial organization or “religion” since its inception but over the past few years, has undergone closer scrutiny thanks to the rise of the Internet and more specifically, social media. Between the HBO documentary Going Clear Scientology and the Prison of Belief and A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, there’s been plenty of information out there, with the former being an excellent documentary and the latter decent though has its lulls and stretching the subject.
Another documentary was also released back in 2015 (and aired in 2017 in the U.S.), My Scientology Movie is a different cat from the others. While it does cover many of the same stories and controversies, this takes a much more satirical and comedic tone, which for the most part really works. One of the better sections has host/writer Louis Theroux (brother of Justin Theroux) and former Scientology Inspector General Marty Rathbun serving as a consultant of sorts, being confronted by the Church’s goons (my interpretation). This aspect is nothing new but the altercation and documentation gave it a more weight on just how insane the lengths Scientology would go through to destroy their “enemies”. The other part, and this is more in the entertainment realm, was Theroux auditioning actors to play key roles including Scientology leader David Miscavige and even Tom Cruise, utilizing their own words read by the actors, and ultimately the one chosen to play Miscavige (ANDREW PEREZ) was particularly excellent, if not over-the-top, though if the stories told are even half accurate, the fear of this man is justified. Now, on the downside, My Scientology Movie is not a typical documentary. Yes, you get some history about the organization and Miscavige himself while also interviewing former members who relay their own (albeit briefly) history, if you knew nothing about Scientology before, I don’t think you get the full picture, which is why a documentary like Going Clear is the one to check out, though this one works a supplementary material with more of a comedic twist. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5 |
| No features included, not even a scene selection submenu. |
VIDEO – 3.75/5, AUDIO – 3.5/5
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| The movie is presented in its original 1.78 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio which looks fine though there was plenty instances of artifacting going on while the Dolby Digital 5.1 track can be a bit much in a few scenes, otherwise dialogue outputs via the center channel with decent clarity. |
OVERALL – 2.5/5 |
| Overall, My Scientology Movie does deliver some good laughs though it doesn’t really give much more insights into the organization than has already been examined with Going Clear which came out the same year as this one. But Theroux makes for a great subject/host and would like to see more from him. |
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