2002 / 113 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Dale Nauertz

I don’t know how much truth there is to this film. I don’t know whether Chuck Barris, creator of “The Dating Game” and “The Gong Show” was also a CIA assassin. I don’t know whether that is true, whether he just made it up to make his autobiography more interesting, or whether the man is deluded beyond all hope or just wrote his autobiography while suffering some sort of nervous breakdown. But no matter which of these ideas you choose to support, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” is an endlessly fascinating film about so many diverse subjects that you cannot help but be riveted by nearly every frame.

The great thing about the film is that it never really plays it safe. All of the above theories I have stated could be supported by any moment of the film. If Chuck really was a delusional creature, then you could use the film’s content to support that theory. If Chuck was telling the truth, then you could make a case for that. If it’s all bullshit, well, at least it’s entertaining bullshit. The film is a funhouse that explores the interiors and dimly lit corners of Chuck Barris’s psyche, with occasional interviews from people who actually knew Chuck and give their opinions. None of these opinions are really that conclusive either. Such is the great, wacked-out fun of the film.

Another thing that makes the movie so great is the sterling, screw-loose performance of Sam Rockwell as Chuck. He is amazing. Somehow he takes a man who, no matter how you slice it, had very little soul and possibly no heart, and makes him endearing. Then again, this is one of those characters that an actor probably encounters once in a lifetime if he’s lucky. But Sam takes this enigmatic soul and runs with it, applying strange layers and oddball motivations. No matter what you might think of Barris at the end of the film, you’re happy to be along for the ride.

Another man worth commending here is George Clooney. Not only does he give a great supporting turn as the man who recruits Barris into the CIA (if there was such a person) but he also takes his first turn behind the camera and makes the movie come alive with tons of neat technical tricks and a wonderful grasp of tone. Clooney has clearly paid attention to all the directors he’s worked with and taken careful notes. Few actors turned filmmakers have seemed to have such a clear understanding of how to use the camera and such a great feel for editing. Or, at least, have allowed the editor and director of photography such freedom. There are some great camera maneuvers here that simply heighten the weirdo atmosphere of the piece. Then again, the script by Charlie Kaufman is pretty much perfect. It’s his best work this year, “Adaptation” be damned.

You may not know what to believe during the course of this film, but you probably won’t care what’s true or not. The film washes over you like a fever dream. It’s like the highlights reel of a man’s life, and it’s absorbing. There is some hilarious stuff here, but there’s also a lot of darkness and sadness as well. Whether he was a killer or not, the man was still condemned as the man who destroyed television, the man who created the reality show and warped the game show. “Confessions” is a confession: a unique and immediate glimpse into the warped mind of a master showman and amoral dreamer. It’s a cautionary tale and a ripping yarn. It’s a success story but also the story of a hollow man trying to fill his life with women and work and, eventually and possibly fictitiously, with murder for hire. The film argues that there may not be that big a distance between television producer and professional killer and, while that may be a bit obvious; it’s not done in an obvious manner. There are plenty of dark angles being explored here, and plenty of dangerous and surreal territory to cover. The film even takes wholesome faces like Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts and leads them deep into the heart of darkness, which is truly refreshing to see from both actresses; particularly Julia.

No matter what you might think of the film, and its lead character, you’ve got to admit that you’ve never seen anything like it before, and you’re not likely to see it again. Take a good, long look. It’s one of the most distinctive films of the year.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 24th, 2003 at 1:47 pm and is filed under Dale's Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.