Ron Hubbard, and his disciple, a degenerate drunk Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) the duo have a tumultuous relationship, with Dodd attempting to cure Freddie of his chronic drinking and violent outbursts via his self-help system known as 'The Cause', but ultimately failing to save Freddie from himself. The story concerns the relationship between Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a character modeled after Scientology founder L. Paul Thomas Anderson confused audiences and critics alike with his follow-up to the Academy Award nominated There Will Be Blood, 2012's The Master.
