Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
2002 Directed by George Clooney
Synopsis
Some things are better left top secret.
Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said.
Cast
Studios
Popular reviews
More-
A coming out party in more ways than one, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind above all proved that Sam Rockwell could anchor whole films. A scene-stealer (or entire-film thief) in Galaxy Quest and Mamet's underrated Heist, Rockwell had already been around for a decade and accumulating a promising resume. He finally had the opportunity to star and he's more than convincing as the enigmatic Chuck Barris. There is never a direct line of thought into Barris' motivations. He is more a prisoner of his own delusions and this adds a level of mystery that in return attracts the need for rewatches. Rockwell is great.
Debut direction by George Clooney is also a welcome surprise. There is an undercurrent of satire…
-
This was probably my favorite film directed by George Clooney. I usually don't like his direction much, and here it wasn't stellar, but he didn't screw it up too much. Sam Rockwell is excellent in this. He finds a way to be repulsive and adorable at the same time. Drew Barrymore was brilliantly cast, because her warmth and bubly nature gave the film a nice lift whenever she was around. The story was fascinating, but the tone switches so much throughout I kept losing details of the story. Maybe it was just overly ambitious, maybe it was poor execution, but I didn't connect to the story even if I found it very enjoyable. Not Charlie Kaufman's best writing, but it might be Clooney's least aggravating directing.
-
"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."
Writer Charlie Kaufman, and first time director George Clooney, bring us Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, the story of Chuck Barris.
Chuck Barris - songwriter, and creator/host of several popular game shows (the Dating Game, etc) who also had a secret life in which he worked as a hit man for the CIA?
No idea. But it was a fun…
-
I had to lower my ratings on this film on a rewatch because despite the fact that I still love this film, it does have its flaws to it and the best thing about this film is when it embraces the darkness that it can and will go to because that is the best part about it. The end speech that Chuck Barris gives is one of the darkest things that I have ever heard before and it seems like it fits him. I still wonder and debate if Chuck was full of shit and made all of the CIA stuff up about being a sactioned hit men that was given missions and he would go and carry them out…
-
I've already said all I've had to say about this film in my last review so I'm just gonna say this...
This isn't the best film Charlie Kaufman wrote, but it's up there. It's definitely his most accesible film so those who don't really like his "strange" approach to his films can probably enjoy this. He did a great job writing, George Clooney did a fantastic job directing in his debut, and Sam Rockwell is excellent in the lead.
-
So unbelievable is this film that I thought the whole thing was a Fargo style made-up-true-story until I gave Chuck Barris a quick Google search halfway through.
Sam Rockwell is as amazing as ever, a seriously charismatic actor. I could watch him forever and he is truly the king of the 27%ers (those actors whose inclusion in a film makes it 27% better, also see Nathan Fillion and Bryan Cranston). The placement of his name on the poster made me think his appearance was only some kind of cameo (I knew nothing about this before watching it), so I was thrilled to see him as lead. Barrymore is also characteristically charming as the sweet and trusting Penny, and Clooney does…
Recent reviews
More-
the mind of Charlie Kaufman excels once again, a effortlessly cool from beginning to end
-
Hilariously dark
-
George Clooney is an amazing talent, and his directorial debut shows that he is more than just an actor. He is not an actor-director in the vein of a Gibson or Costner who craft massive epics with them as the center character. Instead, he makes movies which are smart, exciting, and at times daring, especially for a star of his stature. His debut is helped by a script by the modern master, Charlie Kaufman. Differing from his super meta films, it nonetheless contains his distintive voice and originality. Sam Rockwell gives one of his best performances, combing the charm and humor with pathos of the game-show producer turned CIA assassin.
-
Why do I keep forgetting Charlie Kaufman wrote this? Still astonishing on my umpteenth viewing. It's clearly a pot-pourri of everything George Clooney ever learnt from watching other directors, but he uses it all to maximum effect. Sam Rockwell is enthralling, and the supporting cast all contribute wonderfully. Abstract, warped, funny, black, sublime. Just like Chuck Barris himself.
And if you want to know why our Saturday evening television is in the state it is, look no further than this particular "CIA operative" of 40 years ago. True dat.
-
I have a few basic rules that I enforce upon myself while watching a movie:
1. Don't look at the clock.
2. Background noise is intolerable.
3. No multi-tasking.
4. Except eating. Eating is both acceptable and encouraged for the enhancement of film viewing.
5. Don't. Look. At. The. Clock.You might be wondering why I forbid myself from checking the time. Allow me to explain.
The reason I can't check the time while watching a movie, is because not only is it distracting, but it pulls me out of the trance that said movie is supposed to put me in. (Also, my conscience kicks in and tells me it's late and I need to go to bed. And then… -
Excellent and entertaining.
-
"Very good & entertaining movie. Sam Rockwell is excellent as Chuck Barris (one of his very best) while Drew Barrymore seemed out of place, may have gotten a script where she doesn't add much to the story. Nice cameos from Julia Roberts and George Clooney who's even better behind the camera, well-directed from him. Pretty underrated movie."
-
A coming out party in more ways than one, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind above all proved that Sam Rockwell could anchor whole films. A scene-stealer (or entire-film thief) in Galaxy Quest and Mamet's underrated Heist, Rockwell had already been around for a decade and accumulating a promising resume. He finally had the opportunity to star and he's more than convincing as the enigmatic Chuck Barris. There is never a direct line of thought into Barris' motivations. He is more a prisoner of his own delusions and this adds a level of mystery that in return attracts the need for rewatches. Rockwell is great.
Debut direction by George Clooney is also a welcome surprise. There is an undercurrent of satire…
-
Pretty cool. Sam Rockwell as a gameshow host/C.I.A. agent. George Clooney as a another C.I.A agent. Drew Barrymore annoying me. No-one plays crazy quite like Sam Rockwell and with this character he can really sink his teeth into this.
I liked the parts with Rockwell working in TV and the parts where he was off capping dudes. I didn't enjoy his homelife, again it was Drew Barrymore. I'm not sure why but I really can't stand her.
But yeah, the sets looked really good and the music was cool and really fit the scenes. Well done Clooney on the direction here, there was some really neat shots, especially the one where Rockwell is on the phone to the producer and Barrymore is dancing away.
Enjoyable, thought provoking and a good laugh.