Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

I thought confessions were out of vogue, but here we go again and like all confessions, its a little painful. This film is the screenplay adaptation of Chuck Barris autobiographical book and journal notes. Hes the guy who started as an NBC page and worked his way up to producing The Dating Game, The Gong Show and other syndicated network game shows.

The storyline is presented mostly as a chronological sequence of flashback segments of Barris life. If you are willing to believe his story, he was clever, audacious, creative, a womanizer and an all around jerk. Most or all of this is potentially verifiable. What cannot be verified is his claim that he was also a CIA assassin. All of this is dramatized in the film.

Since this is presented as a documentary, I choose to call it creative non-fiction. As such it is chronology rather than dramatic rising action. It also uses a present problem to kick off the story. This trick forces the storyteller to use flashbacks, which is usually a weaker plot plan.

The acting is good, the dialogue is well done, the cinematography is professional and the patchwork scenes are presented so the story is understandable. The real question is why? What is the entertainment value, ethical value or historical value of this film? Why bother watching it? I couldnt come up with a good reason, unless I just wanted to see some good actors and I didnt care what they did. The point of the plot seems to be to demean Chuck Barris and its successful.

Sam Rockwell (a local boy born in Daly City) plays Chuck Barris. Considering the role, I thought Rockwell was well cast and did a great job of portraying Barris. Rockwells 15-year career has been mostly in films. He was recently in The Green Mile (1999), Charlies Angels (2000) and Heist (2001).

Drew Barrymore plays Penny, Barris steady girl friend. This role requires a range of emotions and she carries it off well. She is one of a long line of famous Barrymore actors, Ethel, Lionel, John and John Drew Barrrymore.

Julia Roberts plays Patricia, one of Barris CIA contacts. As the most popular actress in America, she needs no introduction. Im just surprised she took the part.

George Clooney directed this film and plays Jim, the CIA operative who conscripts Barris and maintains contact with him. Clooney also needs no introduction. This was his debut as a director and regardless of my opinion of the story that he chose to do, I believe he succeeded as a director.

Reviewed November 19, 2003