Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

George Clooney's directorial debut is an adaptation of the fanciful autobiography by Chuck Barris, the TV producer who also served as the squinty-eyed host of the notorious The Gong Show. In his book, Barris contended, with a straight face, that while creating a succession of awful game shows, he was also moonlighting as a hit-man for the CIA--a claim that Clooney and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman enjoy presenting in the most lurid, surrealistic tones. (Clooney also plays Barris's CIA recruiter and handler, and induced pal Julia Roberts to take the part of a femme fatale agent.) The film is very stylized, with many striking compositions and unusual camera moves as well as some cannily crafted inserts from interviews with Barris's erstwhile colleagues; but the result comes across as mere showiness. And while Sam Rockwell works extraordinarily hard as the showman-turned-assassin, his energy isn't enough to overcome this ultimately pointless picture's self-conscious quirkiness. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director George Clooney and cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, seven behind-the-scenes production featurettes (23 min.), 11 deleted scenes (23 min.) with optional commentary by Clooney and Sigel, three Sam Rockwell screen test segments (7 min.), the “Chuck Barris: The Real Story” featurette (6 min.), five Gong Show Acts segments (5 min.), a stills gallery, a soundtrack spot, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an ambitious--if flawed--film.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Nov. 8, 2011—Lionsgate, 114 min., R, $14.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's Confessions of a Dangerous Mind sports a great transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the DVD release, including audio commentary by director George Clooney and cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, a behind-the-scenes featurette (23 min.), deleted scenes (23 min.), costar Sam Rockwell's screen test (8 min.), a segment on “The Real Chuck Barris” (7 min.), “Gong Show Acts” recreation scenes (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for an uneven but often fascinating film.]