Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Brad Pitt, David Julian Hirsh, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Jerry Weintraub ... (see more) , Julia Roberts , Linda Tomassone , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Matt Damon , Robert John Burke , Rutger Hauer , Sam Rockwell
Young, energetic, and focused on a top career in the growing television industry, Chuck Barris finds himself being followed by a suspicious character who quickly lures him into a secretive and dangerous world: that of a CIA operative. While Barris gains notoriety as a dynamic television producer--cr... (read more) Young, energetic, and focused on a top career in the growing television industry, Chuck Barris finds himself being followed by a suspicious character who quickly lures him into a secretive and dangerous world: that of a CIA operative. While Barris gains notoriety as a dynamic television producer--creating such innovative and popular shows as "The Newlywed Game" and the self-hosted "The Gong Show"--he regularly executes assassinations for the United States government. As ratings rise, Barris incorporates his shows into his secret life: winning couples on "The Dating Game" find themselves shipped off to "fabulous Helsinki" and "romantic West Berlin" for their dream dates--it isn't Paris, but it provides chaperone Barris a cover for his covert missions. As Barris basks in the glamour of his two worlds--entertainment and espionage--his life begins to spiral out of control. He is torn between the woman who loves him and the mysterious woman of his fantasies. He receives mass criticism from the public who accuses him of contaminating the airwaves and he finds himself marked for death by an operative. Barris must regain control of his life. Both of them.
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R, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed by:
George Clooney
Release Date: Dec 31, 2002
DVD Release Date: Sep 09, 2003
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Flixster User Reviews
A near-perfect biopic. If Clooney and Kaufman teamed up again in the future, I certainly wouldn't complain. Fantastic performance by Sam Rockwell, as well. Just a fun, dark, funny, intriguing story.
Well done sort of biopic + possible fictional material about the "true" life of TV show creator Chuck Barris, who claims to have been an agent for the CIA. Sam Rockwell is great as the offbeat and often zany Barris. A few laugh-out-loud moments. Ente... (read more) Well done sort of biopic + possible fictional material about the "true" life of TV show creator Chuck Barris, who claims to have been an agent for the CIA. Sam Rockwell is great as the offbeat and often zany Barris. A few laugh-out-loud moments. Entertaining.
Is george clooney becoming the next clint eastwood? not so much growing older, but becoming more and more interesting? not only being a good director, but also picking interesting stories and telling them in a unique way? well, in my eyes he's on his... (read more) Is george clooney becoming the next clint eastwood? not so much growing older, but becoming more and more interesting? not only being a good director, but also picking interesting stories and telling them in a unique way? well, in my eyes he's on his best way there.
He brings together a fantastic cast, wherein the more well-known actors/actresses are merely support for a once-again brilliantly playing sam rockwell. julia roberts makes a really interesting appearance rather late in the film, while george clooney of course cannot resist taking an important part himself.
The story itself is told in quite a fast-paced way, moving through the years. i'm not sure whether it can be really said to be a character portrait of chuck barris, but it definitely gives us an idea of the crazy world he must have been living in leading two different lives.
This film gets along almost on sheer entertainment value. The plot is decent but fails to truly engage especially towards the end. The cinema and the acting, however, really flow well and they create a movie really worth watching. It was VERY funny a... (read more) This film gets along almost on sheer entertainment value. The plot is decent but fails to truly engage especially towards the end. The cinema and the acting, however, really flow well and they create a movie really worth watching. It was VERY funny and always pleasing to the eye.
George Clooney took a lot of liberties with Charlie Kaufman's script and it shows. Nevertheless a commendable directing effort with Sam Rockwell at the top of his game. Dark,absurdist and bizarre as you would expect from a script by Kaufman.
It's nice to see Sam Rockwell playing a lead and he seems well suited for this part. The movie isn't as delightfully whimsical as others based on Kaufman's scripts, but it has plenty of flare. So many films have tried to make us wonder whether certai... (read more) It's nice to see Sam Rockwell playing a lead and he seems well suited for this part. The movie isn't as delightfully whimsical as others based on Kaufman's scripts, but it has plenty of flare. So many films have tried to make us wonder whether certain experiences of a character are genuine or not that I no longer care about the question enough to ponder it. Fortunately the movie remains light on its feet, deftly carrying us from one exploit to the next.
"I came up with a new game-show idea recently. It's called The Old Game. You got three old guys with loaded guns onstage. They look back at their lives, see who they were, what they accomplished, how close they came to realizing their dreams. The win... (read more) "I came up with a new game-show idea recently. It's called The Old Game. You got three old guys with loaded guns onstage. They look back at their lives, see who they were, what they accomplished, how close they came to realizing their dreams. The winner is the one who doesn't blow his brains out. He gets a refrigerator."
(updated review)
I absolutely adore the way this film is directed. George Clooney manages to create mind-blowing shots with set pieces. The only real problem with this film is that the script never really lives up it's own potential, now that could be because Clooney himself re-wrote Kaufman's script but we may never know. Sam Rockwell is also great, but he's always great.
Always liked this film. It's what got me into Rockwell and I've watched it numerous times.
Now this was brilliant, a fantastic cast that has seriously made me love Rockwell, i didnt think i could love him more after Moon but this is a brilliant performance. The entire thing was fascinating, great direction from Clooney.
Wow.......I am stunned by the BRILLIANCE! Everyone must see this movie right now.
I really liked this. Tonally it's all over the place, veering wildly from scene to scene between slapstick farce and really dark materials. But in fact, this only serves to draw the viewer more into the virtually schizophrenic nature of Chuck Barris'... (read more) I really liked this. Tonally it's all over the place, veering wildly from scene to scene between slapstick farce and really dark materials. But in fact, this only serves to draw the viewer more into the virtually schizophrenic nature of Chuck Barris' "dangerous" mind. It's also no great surprise given that the screenplay is written by Charlie Kaufman (of the wonderful Eternal Sunshine... and Being John Malkovich).
Sam Rockwell is fantastic in the leading role, onscreen virtually the whole time, initially a broken man, but also at times a sad loser, a Top Secret Agent, and an increasingly unreliable TV producer. He's clearly a fantasist, which casts shadows and doubts over his 'history', but it's a terrific ride.
The comedy is sometimes truly laugh-out-loud. The first unedited pilot of The Dating Game is brilliant, and there are some terrific cameos from George Clooney's mates. Julia Roberts makes for a fun femme fatale, Rutger Hauer and Clooney are terrific, while Brad Pitt and Matt Damon make perhaps the shortest and best appearances of all! Even Drew Barrymore was quite engaging...
Critic Reviews
It's a smart, stylish, eminently watchable movie that nonetheless feels a little empty at the end.full review
The movie makes a case for itself through sheer oddness and perversity.full review
Maybe the title should have been Confusions of a Dangerous Mind, though the confusion, in this case, can be pretty sublime.full review
Not only intriguing as a story but great to look at, a marriage of bright pop images from the 1960s and 1970s and dark, cold spyscapes that seem to have wandered in from John le Carre.full review
Confessions isn't always coherent, but it's sharply comic and surprisingly touching, so hold the gong.full review
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind works best as a rollicking trip through the pop culture of the '60s and '70s.full review
Confessions may not be a straightforward bio, nor does it offer much in the way of Barris' motivations, but the film is an oddly fascinating depiction of an architect of pop culture.full review
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