Re: The Master **Spoiler alert!**
No lie, I went to see The Master last night at a local independent theater and they showed "The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard" instead of previews before the film!
*Contains mini spoiler alert*
Oh! I wish it was in the theater I went to last night!
Osa was in attendance with their ultra serious looks and one was also posted right outside the door. Obvious movie copiers sat in the back row so it should start showing up soon on Youtube for all you Aussies.
Spoiler: My favorite lines in the movie paraphrased:
"So Dodd, in book 1 You use the phrase "Can you RECALL?"
But now in book 2 you say "Can you
IMAGINE?" "Why is that?"
It took me a second to get it in relationship to the OT levels and much of the information in Scientology, but then it quickly became my favorite line of the evening. After I left the theater I kept smiling remembering the way that line was delivered. (And his reaction to it which I won't tell you here)
I found the movie to flow more slowly than I thought it would. I am a tad greedy and wanted more facts, human drama and action. I had to keep reminding myself for the first hour that this is a glimpse into the epicenter of LRH in the 50's and NOT a documentary on the subject. It is not the screenplay or drama series we could so easily create right here from this website alone.
Hoffman, Phoenix and Adams all did a very good job. The wives and women looked like LRH's wives. I also liked the sex scene, although I will refrain from describing it here. Selfish and self-serving is all I'll say.
What bothered me about the movie?
Instead of having Dodd (LRH) be the originator of important things like over-boarding, angry tirades, drug use, demands for loyal service, and beating up dissenters the Director chose to show others doing these actions. Maybe that was to avoid liability or further attacks from COS?
The movie kept having other people say things like "You join us for a billion years or not at all." Disciples took it upon them selves to kick the crap out of people who shared negative comments on the tech or LRH where as in real life--LRH would have been giving the orders or doing it himself and relishing every moment while he said he didn't like having to do it.
Also in the movie LRH seemed very loving (maybe it was just charismatic?) and kept saying things to his family like: "I love you" so this does not seem reality based. ARC (Affinity, reality, communication triangle) took the place of
love in Scientology near the beginning from what I understand. Manic or power-based 'affinity' for your minions is not the same as love. Now I am wondering how much LRH had the genuine emotions of pure love at all towards his kids, family, minions or otherwise.
The character (Dodd) was able to turn emotions on and off, seemingly at will which is what we might expect from a narcissistic, misogynistic, dark megalomaniac. He obviously loved being the center of attention. He uses ruin and personal fact gathering right away in a session and I relished that it was shown as recorded.
Also- the buildings start as run down and old fashioned then end up being like the New Orgs. Huge, God-like rooms with a perfect combination of austerity and power.
I could go on and on with this spoiler. Don't hate me, I warned you!
Dodd's son looks a lot like (Ron jr) and says when referring to his dad: "Don't you know? ...That he just makes this stuff up as he goes along?"
It is clear that he is treated like a lackey during the movie.
I am going to see this again for all the little things I may have missed and buy it when it comes out.
but, I thought that and the dictation scene captured the dynamic of their marriage perfectly. 
