Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Review by Jason Donner

Game show impresario Chunk Barris has either lived one of the most incredible lives in the history of Hollywood, or he is so full of crap that, if you sculpted a man completely out of crap... that man would still not be as full of crap as Chuck Barris.

Either way, Mr. Barris' popular novel  is now a major motion picture... the first to be directed by George Clooney as a matter of fact... Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Whether it's a true story or a demented work of fiction is a conclusion you must draw for yourself.

First of all, Sam Rockwell doesn't get near the respect he deserves. This guy should be one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. He should be getting awards and accolades. He can do drama, comedy, action... this guy is a renaissance man and his role as Chuck Barris only goes to cement that fact. If fate is kind, this guy should be around a long, long, long time to come and finally get the recognition he deserves.

As for the movie itself... hey, it could have been better and it could have been worse. I won't lie... I wasn't exactly blown away by anything in this moody little picture. In fact, near the end I found it tedious and melodramatic.

I was surprised at how long it did hold my interest with such a paper-thin plot dripping in unbelieveability. To his credit, a lot of the movie was saved by George Clooney's direction.

First Bill Paxton and now George Clooney? Maybe that's what Hollywood needs! More directors who aren't afraid of never being able to direct again! They do more daring stuff than the regular Joe Sixpack directors.

There's nothing wholly remarkable about this movie other than some great performances and a healthy directorial debut by George Clooney. Everything else about Confessions of a Dangerous Mind ranks as mildly interesting... if a bit draggy.

Do I think this is a true story? Well... sufficed to say, I have my doubts but who knows? Stranger things have been known to happen!