The Bottom Line
To my mind, this film offers a fascinating look into a man’s life and the pop culture of an era—both of which were badly in need of a reality check.
Pros
- Charlie Kaufman's script is witty and shrewd
- Fascinating look into both a life and pop culture
- Rockwell's naturalistic and unsettling performance
Cons
- Stylized filmmaking weakens emotional punch
- Despite being autobiographical, lacks credibility
- Script occasionally self-conscious and glib
Description
- DVD containing biopic "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002)
- Movie based on Chuck Barris’ autobiography
- Film stars Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Rutger Hauer
- Movie is directorial debut of George Clooney
- DVD provides feature-length audio commentary by director and cinematographer
- DVD has 11 deleted scenes, 7 behind-the-scenes vignettes, and other bonus materials
- Excellent picture and sound quality
Guide Review - "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" DVD Review
George Clooney makes an assured directorial debut with this biopic based on Chuck Barris’ cult book, and Charlie Kaufman’s witty script strikes the right balance between the comic and the tragic. In addition to creating TV’s "The Dating Game" and "The Gong Show," Chuck Barris claims in his autobiography he was an undercover assassin for the CIA. I thought that despite being based upon his autobiography, what unfolds in this movie defies credibility. But Sam Rockwell’s naturalistic and unsettling performance as Barris gave the story an emotional center that made it come alive for me anyway. This film offers a fascinating look into a man’s life and an era’s pop culture—both of which were badly in need of a reality check.
