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Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind

Drew Barrymore (Actor), George Clooney (Actor, Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 334 ratings
IMDb7.0/10.0
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February 23, 2021
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April 26, 2011 		—
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Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind $3.99 $14.99
Genre Mystery & Thrillers
Format Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen, Color
Contributor Martin Kevan, Gene Gene Patton, James Urbaniak, Jerry Weintraub, Shaun Balbar, Barbara Bacci, Michael Filipowich, John Todd Anderson, Bill Corday, Francois St. Pierre, Daniel Zacapa, Isabelle Juneau, Melissa Carter, Tony Zanca, Dick Clark, Ilona Elkin, Claudia Besso, Emilio Rivera, George Randolph, Kristen Wilson, Murray Langston, Bruce Pepper, Pascal Devigne, Carlo Berardinucci, Andrée-Anne Quesnel, Rachelle Lefevre, Dino Tosques, Krista Allen, Ethan Thomas C. Dempster, Aimee Rose Ambroziak, Marlida Ferreira, Michael Ensign, Rutger Hauer, Sergei Priselkov, David Hirsh, Tommy Hinkley, George Clooney, Michelle Sweeney, Robert John Burke, Sean Tucker, Steve Adams, Samantha Banton, Pascale Devigne, Jennifer Hall, Chelsea Ceci, Jeff Lefebvre, Artie Lange, Shulan Noma, Michael Cera, Suyun Kim, Peter N. Wilson, Jerome Tiberghien, Marlene Fisher, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Ron di Lauro, Keshav Patel, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Lazar, Robert Burke, Frank Fontaine, Sam Rockwell, Richard Beaudet, Fred Savage, Jim Lange, David Julian Hirsh, Christiane Paul, Jaye P. Morgan, Krista Allen-Moritt, Nathalie Morin, Maria-Eve Bertrand, Joe Cobden, Julia Roberts, Richard Kind, Andre Minicozzi, Tanya Anthony, Norman Roy, Leslie Cottle, Cheryl Murphy, Isabelle Blais, Janet Lane, George Jessel See more
Language English
Number Of Discs 1

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
334 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Robert I. Hedges
5.0 out of 5 stars The Dark and Disturbing Gong
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2004
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This movie, based on the Chuck Barris 'Unauthorized Biography' of the same name, is twisted and compelling. Known to the world as host of "The Gong Show" and producer of other silly game shows, the plot alleges that Chuck led a double life as a CIA hit man. I recall reading the book when it first came out when I was in high school and finding it hugely entertaining though altogether unlikely.
When I heard it was being made into a feature film I was ecstatic, as I was always a fan of Barris. Overall this adaptation is quite good, but a good deal more depressing that I would have liked. Even the book, which has been recently re-released, is considerably more upbeat than the film. In his directorial debut, George Clooney acquits himself quite well. The film has an almost film noir feel to it, though I feel it's taken to extremes, for example in Julia Roberts' costumes: they scream 'cold war' so loudly, you might for a moment forget that you aren't watching Rocky and Bullwinkle chase Boris and Julia Roberts hither and yon.
The sets and locations are brilliant (for more on this, I highly recommend a viewing with the commentary turned on) and do accurately convey the era. The technical aspects of the film are brilliantly executed. Visual effects (mostly done 'in camera', i.e. not through cuts or editing) are superior. Particularly impressive is the 'rotating set' technique, which is explained in one of the special features. The sound editing is particularly noteworthy as well. The expression of unseen activities and moods through sound in this film is breathtaking, particularly in the pool scene late in the film.
Acting here is generally first rate: Sam Rockwell nails the Barris mannerisms, and Clooney is brilliant as the never smiling CIA recruiter. Drew Barrymore does yeoman's work in one of the more complex parts in the movie, and veteran Rutger Hauer is in peak form in a psychologically difficult part. The only performance I was not fond of was that of Julia Roberts, who, through a combination of direction and native acting abilities, came across as cartoonish, and distinctly less believable than the rest of the ensemble.
This is a fascinating and disturbing movie, a film that is more a psychological thriller than anything else. The DVD comes with some great extras, including deleted scenes, and an excellent audio commentary. It also comes with a short feature titled "The Real Chuck Barris Documentary", which is a gem and an absolute treasure for fans. Although the film was darker than I would have liked, it was generally well acted and directed, with innovative plot twists worthy of a story of intrigue and espionage.
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j.Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars ❤️❤️❤️
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024
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Great movie. Love Sam Rockwell
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Benjamin Herman
4.0 out of 5 stars A highly underrated, intriguing, and utterly bizarre movie
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2013
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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is the directorial debut of George Clooney, based on a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Supposedly there was a lack of communication between the two, which led to dissatisfaction on Kaufman's part. Well, at least according to Wikipedia, but that website is often only slightly more accurate in its adherence to reality than Chuck Barris was in his autobiography of the same name. (Was Barris really a CIA hitman who murdered 33 people? Probably not, but who the heck knows?) Whatever the case, the final script is very good. As far as the direction, Clooney is amazing. It's astonishing that this was his first time behind the camera, because he totally knocked it out of the park.

The cast of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind are all superb. Heading up the film is Sam Rockwell, who does eerily stunning work capturing the persona & mannerisms of Chuck Barris. He portrays Barris as a veritable con artist, a self-involved, womanizing egotist who eventually descends into paranoia, isolation, and madness. It's an amazing performance. Based on this, I'm genuinely surprised that Rockwell isn't a bigger name. But, of course, in Hollywood talent and fame don't often align with the frequency that they should.

The rest of the cast is also noteworthy. Drew Barrymore plays Penny, the long suffering girlfriend of Barris who puts up with his constant lies & cheating. Clooney himself plays Jim Byrd, the icy CIA agent who recruits Barris. Julia Roberts portrays Patricia, a seductive spy who serves as Barris' contact in the field. Now, I am generally not a fan of Roberts' work. However, watching her here, I was actually impressed. It was interesting to see her in a darker, more cynical role than she usually plays. She certainly did fine work with it. Rounding out the cast is the amazing, underrated Rutger Hauer. His character Keeler is a philosophizing veteran hitman who befriends Barris. It's always a pleasure to see Hauer on the screen. Even when cast in a relatively small supporting role such as this, he gives it his all, turning in a charismatic performance.

At first, I was genuinely surprised to learn that Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was a box office bomb. I thought it was an amazing film, and so did my girlfriend. But reflecting on it, I quickly realized that the movie is not easily classifiable. It starts off as a comedy, but then transitions into a dark, disturbing look at a rather unlikable man living a double life who gradually experiences a mental breakdown. Is it supposed to be humorous or somber? Well, both. But I think that for many viewers, who like to compartmentalize their entertainment into comfortable, easily absorbed categories, a film such as Confessions of a Dangerous Mind can be a turn off, as it straddles so many genres.

I definitely recommend giving this movie a try. It really is an amazing film. Myself, I'm looking forward to watching it again.
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D. Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars You just never know.....
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2022
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Anyone like myself that came of age in the 1970's knows "The Gong Show" and Chuck Barris. If you don't know the first, then you are familiar with the "Dating Game" or the "Newlywed Game" which he only produced. Little do most of us know that Barris claims to have been a contract killer. Barris never has confirmed this part of his life, but it certainly makes for a fun story. Included are anecdotes from Jaye P. Morgan, Gene Gene (the dancing machine), Dick Clark, The Unknown Comic. Definitely worth it!
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M. JEFFREY MCMAHON
5.0 out of 5 stars Delusional and Paranoid Meltdown
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2006
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I like films that deal with Faustian characters who trade their soul for money and fame. Take Boogie Nights and Mulholland Dr., two of my favorites. Now Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Like those other two movies, we have a character who throws his whole life away to become a glittery celebrity. As such, Chuck Barris creates such abominations as Dating Game, Newlywed Game, The Gong Show. His TV ideas we learn are born out of his disgust for the human race: its need to be seen on TV even in a foolish light; its love of money even if it means selling out your spouse. In addition to seeing Barris' inner mind work as he creates these popular programs, we see his parallel life--mostly delusional we are to assume--of his job in the CIA, complete with killing 33 people. We assume this delusion is designed to make him feel important.

The film truly captures the pathos of the Faustian Bargain and is even suggestive, especially with its mother conflict and the need for unconditional love, of the masterpiece Citizen Kane.
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Laura M
1.0 out of 5 stars Dvd
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2024
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Tried playing movie 7 xs. Doesn't work. Need it replaced.
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Top reviews from other countries

spiderfriend
5.0 out of 5 stars Things are not what they seem, or are they?
Reviewed in Canada on June 25, 2024
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If one likes their entertainment spicy, subversive, and incredibly manipulative, this is for you. A slick, witty, and oft quite dark story of one man's journey through the atomic age.
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nobody
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent film
Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2013
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Unique style, well acted and always entertaining. I read good reviews about this one and was not disappointed. Very much enjoyed this original, beautifully shot film.
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don_piano
5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2013
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An absurd, very dark, very funny story that is in no danger of taking itself too seriously. Excellent acting all round, it's a pity that critics seemed none too keen on it.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2016
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Quick & perfect
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schumann_bg
3.0 out of 5 stars too much smoke and mirrors
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2012
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This film is perplexing in that it provides an excellent vehicle for Sam Rockwell's acting talent and as such gives you quite a cinematic ride, but the story itself is, in my view, vapid and a bit silly, and purely out of an entertainment factory without any sense of real life, and not enough charm to compensate. Of course it trades on this unreality in the sense that it is set in a totally media-oriented world, and Rockwell is superbly charismatic as the games show host. Some of the material on these shows is very funny. But the pitch of the film is not very likeable. I have to admit I am not a film noir fan and that villains - or ambiguous ones - hold very little appeal for me. I don't even get Orson Welles on the Ferris wheel, so I'm not likely to be taken with any other cinema creations of the same ilk. What I did enjoy was Rockwell in all his zany brilliance, and as always he shows us his rear end and even gets to put something up it - only for the purposes of smuggling, I hasten to add, but it was nonetheless a new cheeky high from an actor who has never been afraid to put himself on the line or use his sense of being completely and playfully at ease with his body - see Choke for proof of this - to add to the film. I'm still waiting to see the film that will really use his comic skill, daring, and heart to the best possible effect - as it is I already think he has been seriously overlooked, and the films aren't ever quite as good as he is.
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