My Scientology Movie

"My Scientology Movie," a British reality film directed by John Dower, is a highly engaging piece of entertainment, but not because it's a great documentary. It's no bastion of objectivity or expos�, the qualities we expect from legitimate journalism; in fact, this movie is not so much about Scientology as it is about its host, Louis Theroux. (Thus the title – "MY Scientology Movie.")

Nevertheless, Theroux is quite an instigator, and one with a nicely subversive plan. He's found himself a very mysterious and defensive religion with a good handful of vocal ex-members (some would call them whistleblowers), and he endeavors to recreate scenes of alleged violence and abuse by the church's leader, David Miscavige.

The first thing Theroux does is wrangle one of the church's most vocal former disciples, Mark Rathbun, to direct the reenactments. Then he conducts a casting call where he anoints the roles not only of Miscavige but of the church's poster boy, Tom Cruise, as well.

In the role of the church's controversial current leader, Theroux and Rathbun cast an ambitious method actor, a young Marlon Brando, with a keen eye toward playing a sociopath. Andrew Perez chews up the scenery as Miscavige, while Rathbun cries "bigger, bigger." Perez does a marvelous job, but the film leads us to believe we will never see his name roll in credits again. The church will surely blackball him. The film also tells us that at this very moment the Church of Scientology is making a movie to denounce and expose Theroux.

Theroux doesn't directly expose Scientology; he simply waits for truly devoted devotees to react to the fact that he is making this kind of movie, and then he films them being overprotective and acting like nutcases.

Though no one in this film looks rational or objective (except the poor actor, Perez) the hysteria only heightens the overall effect. It's not watchdog reporting, and we never see into the church's well-guarded walls, but the conflict Theroux generates is hilarious and a joy to watch.

In the end, I can't say whether this movie is good or bad, because I will not speak against the Church of Scientology. (If this movie has taught me anything, you don't want to mess with these people.)

"My Scientology Movie"
DVD
$19.98
www.myscientologymovie.com/