Starring Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Rutger Hauer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kristen Wilson, Jennifer Hall. Written by Charlie Kauffman. Directed by George Clooney. Based on the "unauthorized" biography of schlock-show creator Chuck Barris, written by Barris himself, Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind tells the story of the ambitious television producer who created such edifying fare as the Dating Game, The Newlywed Show and the Gong Show by day, and worked as an assassin by night. Plus weekends and holidays. Barris (Rockwell) even suggests he gave couples fabulous getaways to such beautiful vacation hotspots as Helsinki and West Berlin as a cover for his covert activities. He is torn between Penny, (Barrymore) the cute and sweet woman who loves him, and Patricia (Roberts), the mysterious femme fatale of his dreams who shares his work in espionage. His CIA handler Jim Byrd (Clooney) constantly draws him back into the mysterious and exciting life of spying and murder. Barris' life spirals out of control as several of his TV shows are cancelled, he is being constantly criticized for his pollution of the airwaves, and a mole in the CIA is out to kill him. The movie takes Barris' claims at face value, and presents the story as true. As to whether his story is true or not, I highly doubt it. As a man who would do just about anything to be in the limelight during his successful years, and the Gong Show certainly qualifies as anything, I would bet this "autobiography" is just another attempt at fame and notoriety. But the story makes for a reasonably entertaining movie, aided by solid performances from Rockwell and Barrymore, and a very funny, much too short appearance by the man playing the just a bit nuts CIA training agent. Several documentary interviews with Jaye P. Morgan, The Unknown Comic and other Gong Show luminaries from the 1970's add to the story. It is a black comedy played straight as if everything is true, and more emphasis on the comedy would have helped. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page