This movie won’t appeal to everyone; its pacing is quite slow... excessively so. To be honest, I had higher hopes for this film. I was anticipating a powerful dramatic element that would make investing the time worthwhile. Sadly, it seems the primary reason to see it is its critique of the Church of Scientology, which isn't even explicitly stated if you’re familiar with the church or observant. Paul Thomas Anderson is considered a talented director, particularly after “Magnolia” and “There Will Be Blood.” I won’t delve into his filmography, partly because he’s not really someone whose work I connect with (I think this makes only the second of his films I've seen). What matters here is this specific movie, and in that regard, the director did a decent job. It might not be his finest work; there are definitely debatable aspects, especially concerning editing and rhythm—but it’s passable. The performances from the cast are even stronger. Joaquin Phoenix delivers an outstanding, intense, and very dramatic performance, though he's overshadowed by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s charisma, a perfect casting choice for a character who needed not just charm but also leadership, confidence, and authority. The actor, who we lost far too soon, deservedly received an Oscar nomination for this role. Laura Dern and Amy Adams provide solid female leads, although their contributions are more understated. Technically, the film has both strengths and weaknesses: the sets and costumes are excellent, as is the recreation of historical settings and periods, along with the cinematography and filming work. However, the editing falls short, failing to enhance the drama or create any momentum. I'm unsure if this was intentional, but the movie feels agonizingly slow, tedious, and dull, filled with poorly written dialogue and a lot of wasted screen time. It seems that roughly half an hour could have been cut without significantly altering the narrative or damaging the story. Naturally, discussing editing brings up the script. I’m not affiliated with the Church of Scientology, so I can view this film openly criticizing it, as well as films offering more subtle critiques. What the movie highlights is the influence of a charismatic leader on the development of a cult—something that seemed fairly obvious to me already. There are also moments suggesting Scientology (or “the Cause”) is essentially a deception, which seems to be a widely held belief based on accounts from former members. Nevertheless, it's not a film likely to draw in large audiences; it’s geared toward those already interested in the subject matter rather than general viewers. This ultimately led to a significant financial loss, considering the production costs involved.

Source on TMDB