Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Rutger Hauer, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 113 minutes

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind is based on the autobiography of TV producer/host Chuck Barris. In his autobiography, Barris first made his outlandish claim that he led a double life as a game show king and a CIA assassin. This film marks the directorial debut of George Clooney.

The story follows Chuck Barris trying to make his way in the world of television. He creates television shows, and attempts to sell them to the TV networks. It shows him creating programmes such as The Gong Show and The Dating Game, if only he'd kept that last idea to himself, Britain's TV viewers could have been left without Cilla Black's Blind Date all these years! It is based on a true story, but you never know if it is completely true or not.

Sam Rockwell plays Chuck Barris, and gives a very convincing performance. He copes with all aspects of the character, such as Barris's sleaziness towards women, and his outgoing personality in front of the live studio audiences. However, at times he seems a little out of his depth, possibly due to the Hollywood superstars whom he is sharing the spotlight with.

Drew Barrymore plays Penny, Chuck's long-suffering girlfriend. She is very likeable as the sexually adventurous, and emotionally vulnerable woman who shares Chuck's life, but does not know any of his secrets.

Julia Roberts plays Patricia. Essentially the femme fatale, she shines as Chuck's cynical, glamorous fellow assassin, whom he becomes somewhat infatuated with. Roberts gives the kind of performance that you would expect from an Academy Award winner such as her, and almost steals the show.

George Clooney, however, deserves all the plaudits for this film. Playing Jim Byrd, Chuck's CIA handler, Clooney plays it straight as an arrow, whilst sporting some rather impressive facial hair. Not only does he impress in front of the camera, but also Clooney has done a superb job behind the camera. So impressive, that it is difficult to believe that this is his directorial debut.

All in all, this film is funny, thrilling, and emotional. It has strong performances, and a story that makes you wonder about what you are watching: did it really happen? It also marks the emergence of Mr Clooney as a director, and he has given himself a hard act to follow with what is a very enjoyable film.