A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Date Viewed: DATE

Details:

Sam Rockwell

George Clooney

Drew Barrymore

Julia Roberts

Rutger Hauer

Director: George Clooney

Score: 0

The Review: Determinedly quirky, and a bit of a genre puzzler, Confessions comes across as the darkly comedic period piece ('50s through '70s USA), a semi-documentary based on an "unauthorized autobiography" (smile!) of Chuck Barris: pop lyricist, TV game show producer, and -- if the book from which this is allegedly derived is at all accurate or believable -- contract CIA assassin. The only problem is that Barris (Rockwell) is a jerk, first and last. It's very hard to watch this shallow crap-meister -- whose character in reality was the eager perpetrator of both "The Dating Game" and "The Gong Show" -- which may be saying it's great acting, but may also be saying the acting just grates. One of its few redeeming features is that the movie does not take itself too seriously.

There are some really good performances by the supporting cast, all of whom downplay their roles (is this minimalism?), and who, when they appear on screen for the first time, immediately intrigue. There is a high population density of high-end actors in this, a rather small film. Barrymore is excellent as the bubby and perpetual girlfriend, Clooney marvelous as Barris' recruiter and contact, Roberts wryly amusing as one of Barris' "co-workers," and Hauer simply fun as an agent with some bizarre habits. There are some hilarious scenes threading through some less than enjoyable drivel -- pay particular attention to the training session ("I can teach you ten ways to kill a man with your bare hands"), and to the lineup of bachelors on the first "Dating Game" to rise into the evening network slot.

On the other hand, one of the advantages of having two movies with the same subplot in simultaneous release, is (to paraphrase) that it focuses the mind. The Recruit is immensely more interesting, consistently better acted, and all round a superior movie -- and Confessions pales by comparison.

Alas, it's a bit sobering when something as recent as the '60s gives reason to call a movie a "period piece." I guess we're all getting old.

3-Feb-03

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