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Vimeo announced today that it has acquired the digital downloading rights to Alex Gibney‘s controversial documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. Hot off its Sundance debut, the film, based on Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name, explores the practices and alleged crimes committed by L. Ron Hubbard‘s Church of Scientology, which is often accused of posing as a glorified cult.
All of the talk surrounding the film has resurfaced conversation about various movies and shows that have been affected by the church, for better or worse. By now, you’re most likely aware of The Master‘s commentary of Hubbard and the religion, but the movement, which has a close hold on Hollywood, has influenced a slew of non-religious films and television shows. Here are five you may not have known about.
You’ll get to see Going Clear March 16th on HBO and download it via Vimeo On Demand in September.
'Battlefield Earth' (2000)
Based on L. Ron Hubbard’s science-fiction novel of the same name, Battlefield Earth managed to bankrupt a production company and work its way to the top of the list of the Worst Movies of All Time. The film was an expensive mess of propaganda gone embarrassingly wrong for the church and sent Travolta’s career into certain turmoil, which was revived by Pulp Fiction just six years earlier. [Where to stream Battlefield Earth]
'Crash' (2004)
Crash was the second year in a row Paul Haggis had a film win the Oscar for Best Picture, the only filmmaker in history with such an accomplishment (the previous year’s ceremony honored Million Dollar Baby with the top prize, which Haggis wrote for Clint Eastwood to direct). With Scientology’s luck and connections, the film went from a soft opening after Haggis’ health failed him during production to snagging the top prize at the Academy Awards, even though it was completely snubbed from the top categories at the Golden Globes. [Where to stream Crash]
'South Park': "Trapped in the Closet" (2005)
After this classic episode of South Park‘s ninth season aired, Isaac Hayes (a prominent Scientologist) said goodbye to Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The episode made explicit claims that Scientology is nothing more than a scam that swindles its top people (i.e. celebrities) and shields them from the facts about the inner workings of the church. That was before they had R.Kelly’s character sing about how both Tom Cruise and John Travolta are trapped in the closet, insinuating that the rumors surrounding their long-debated sexual orientation are true. [Where to stream “Trapped in the Closet”]
'Welcome Back, Kotter' (1975-1979)
When John Travolta was looking for his big break back in the early 1970s, he turned to Scientology’s Celebrity Centre, whose counselors act as both career coaches and, to an extent, therapists. It’s there Travolta confided to his mentor and peers how nervous he was about an upcoming audition for ABC sitcom, Welcome Back, Kotter. According to Lawrence Wright’s research, the class was asked to point in the direction of ABC Studios in Los Angeles and telepathically demand Travolta get the part. By the next meeting, he was cast for the role of Vinnie Barbarino. [Where to stream Welcome Back, Kotter]
'Tropic Thunder' (2008)
During the winter of 2008, biographer Andrew Morton released a book about Tom Cruise which shed light on some ugly issues involving the actor and the church. The backlash created a snowball effect of negative press for the movie star, who tried rounding up his fellow Scientologists for an on-air clearing of the air so-to-speak. One of his calls was made to Paul Haggis, still a member of the church at the time, who discouraged Cruise from acting too defensive. Haggis warned that if Cruise didn’t do something humorous or self-deprecating, his fans would start to see him as an unwanted political figure of sorts. Cruise hung up on Haggis, but later that year we saw him as a wild film exec in Tropic Thunder, which if you remember, garnered him a lot of laughs. [Where to stream Tropic Thunder]
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