MovieChat Forums > The Profit (2001) Discussion > I don't know anything about...

I don't know anything about...


... Scientology or L. Ron

My only "education" on the subject has been the South Park episode and having seen Battlefield Earth. The subject has no interest to me at all. Though I felt compelled to watch The Profit due to the hype. When I saw the film I thought it started out strong, but got a little downright unbelievable. After being moderately entertained I got curious and decide to dig up some info on my own. I was pretty surprised to find a lot of the exploits in the film actually did mirror ones that occurred in reality. When is pretty hilarious... and sad.

As far as the movie itself.. it was a somewhat mediocre production that is really only charged by its subject material. The main actor I thought was pretty good in my opinion, but everyone else is well.. not bad, but ultimately forgettable. However the movie isn't about them or the people Conrad (or Hubbard) hurt, it is about Conrad's demented perspective on the world.

I speculate the green-yet-potential creator of the film had an agenda with things even with the horrible movie poster. An attempt to sneak a film out which Scientology followers would not take seriously at a glance. However with its modest budget I believe the goal was to spark a cult following which would gather curiosity or knowledge of the man with the reaction "No way... oh wait".

Even the name "The Profit" which is a play on "The Prophet" is pretty ingenious.

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