Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Alex Marks

Review by Alex Marks Patron

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002

★★★½ Liked

Watched 20 Mar 2022

This was a hornier movie than I expected it to be. Lots of fucking. And Sam Rockwell's bare ass. Nice. 

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind really reminded me a lot of Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can, which coincidentally came out the same year. They're both unconventional crime biopics with lots of humor. 
They're also based on completely bullshit made up stories. 

Catch Me If You Can has been confirmed as bullshit - which imo makes the film and it's existence even better - and I'm convinced Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is in the same boat. Chuck Barris' life story just seems to crazy to be real. But yeah blah blah blah truth is stranger than fiction. Either way, it was a very entertaining movie. It was also the directorial debut of George Clooney and you can tell it's a first movie. It's well made, but ultimately unrefined. Editing and pacing is a bit hectic at times, but when it's good it's really fuckin good. 

Clooney has a true cinematic eye and there are many unique edits and transitions all throughout. The pacing, as I've just mentioned, is my biggest gripe. It's a little all over the place, as is the life of Chuck Barris (allegedly)
Speaking of Barris, Sam Rockwell did a great job in this movie. I know he's mostly known for supporting roles but this film proves he can crush it as a lead if he wants to. Clooney also appears on camera throughout and I liked his character as the no nonsense shady CIA recruiter. Although his - I think - Texan accent slips in and out a shit load, I liked him.
Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts.... Uhhh other people I can't remember... They were all great as well. 

As far as directional debuts go, I think this one was solid, yet messy. I would definitely see it again because I think it's a lot of fun. It got a bit repetitive towards the end with scenes that would mute the volume of the world and play some kind of slow song, and overall the color grading is somewhat ugly, I still think that...

Issa good movie Jimmy

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