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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    'The Master' and Scientology

    The new film, The Master , is based largely on the life of L. Ron Hubbard. Philip Seymour Hoffman dazzles as the founder of Scientology , a charismatic Svengali who convinces his acolytes of the power of his vision.

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    KCRW placeholderBy Mike Pesca • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    The new film, The Master, is based largely on the life of L. Ron Hubbard. Philip Seymour Hoffman dazzles as the founder of Scientology, a charismatic Svengali who convinces his acolytes of the power of his vision. As his son says in the movie, he makes it up as he goes along. We compare fact and fiction in film with a film critic and a chronicler of Scientology.

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mike Pesca

      host of The Gist

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

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      Scott Foundas

      Variety film critic

    • KCRW placeholder

      Tony Ortega

      longtime Scientology chronicler

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