Starring: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Rutger Hauer
Directed by: George Clooney

For those of you unfamiliar with the life of Chuck Barris, he it is in a nutshell. This guy created hit game shows in the 70s and 80s (The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, The Gong Show). But when his career went in the toilet after the cancellation of his shows, he came out with an "unauthorized autobiography", in which he claims to have killed people for the CIA.

Noted screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, The Dana Carvey Show) wrote a screenplay based on Barris's book. Apparently, this screenplay was known around Hollywood as the greatest unproduced screenplay. George Clooney finally got it made and the results are predictably weird.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind follows Barris's rise to fame as well as his descent into madness when it crumbles around him. First-time director Clooney is impressive in his debut, but falters here and there. While Barris's rise is well-told, fun and greatly entertaining, the latter parts of the movie drag on. Clooney's weird cuts and overexposed film are a little too forced, as if he's trying to hard to get people to notice him. And Barris's downfall is presented in too odd a fashion to follow closely and attentively.

Despite these flaws, the movie is still pretty good, but it's not for everyone (a true Kaufman trait). Rockwell is absolutely great as Barris. Who knew? The last time I saw the guy, he played the dude who though he was going to get killed in Galaxy Quest. But this guy can act and is very watchable. The supposrting cast includes noted superstars Clooney and Roberts, who have small but memorable parts. Also watch for quick cameos by Ocean's Eleven cohorts Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. But I thought Rutger Hauer's appearance as a German spy was great. The last time I saw this guy was in Blade Runner, a movie that came out over 20 years ago. He's also a great actor who never got his due. Meanwhile, my continued dislike for Drew Barrymore marches on, unabated. I can't stand her. Her acting "style" or whatever-the-hell gets on my nerves. I cringe when I hear her speak. Is it just me? C'mon people, back me up.

The weirdness and quick and overly-wry dialogue might turn off some audiences, but if you like strange symbolism (as well as a spy caper, albeit a freaky one), then you'll enjoy Confessions. It's pretty fun. Oh yeah, it was filmed here in Montreal, too.

DroopyMcC
10