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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind [Blu-ray]

Tim Merkel (Actor), Drew Barrymore (Actor) Rated:
R
Format: Blu-ray
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,121 ratings
IMDb7.0/10.0
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November 1, 2011 		—
1
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$24.95 $5.12
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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind $3.99 $14.99
Genre Mystery & Suspense
Format Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Widescreen, Subtitled, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
Contributor Gilbert Gagnon, Gene Gene Patton, John Lewin, Anne Galea, Mariah Inger, Azmin Jaffer, John Todd Anderson, Joost Clerinx, Bill Corday, Brad Pitt, Jeffrey Sudzin, Francois St. Pierre, Etienne Lapointe-Proulx, Eric-Andre Paquin, Tim Merkel, Kelli Garner, Joey Elias, Alain Masse, Charlie Kaufman, Francois Legris, Carlo Berardinucci, Rachelle Lefevre, Dino Tosques, Aaron Glascock, Billy Morts, Sergei Priselkov, Joey Box, George Clooney, Conrad Pla, Pascale Devigne, Robert Dulys, Robert Q. Mathews, Fran Vega-Buck, Michael Kocurek, Eric Aubin, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daniel Fontaine-Begin, Ron di Lauro, John Grassbury, Krista Morin, Jim Lange, Nicolas Lepage, Sheila Thomas, Aldo Tirelli, Troy Robinson, Ellen Gessert, Richard Kind, Julia Roberts, Louis Richard, Ellen Chenoweth, Mike Paterson, Janet Lane, Douglas Crise, Sally Clelford, Arte Johnson, Barbara Bacci, Jeff Scott, Daniel Zacapa, Isabelle Guay, Kimberly Greene, Josee Letourneau, Jonathan Gordon, Isabelle Juneau, Tony Zanca, Dick Clark, Stephen Evans, Emilio Rivera, Murray Langston, Andrée-Anne Quesnel, Eddie Bydalek, Matt Colleran, Melissa V. Barnes, Ethan Thomas C. Dempster, Gym Hinderer, Aimee Rose Ambroziak, Mark A. Freid, Michael Petrucci, Michael Ensign, David Hirsh, Tommy Hinkley, Sean Tucker, Steve Adams, Jamie Farr, Anthony G. Nakonechnyj, Samantha Banton, Jean-Pierre Lavoie, Oscar Mitt, Shulan Noma, Charles-Andre Bertrand, Christian Paul, Fabrice Callegher, Chuck Barris, Curt Schulkey, Harvey Weinstein, Susie Farris, Alex Wurman, Drew Barrymore, Steve E. Anderson, Bob Weinstein, Travis Hills, Sam Rockwell, Serge Archambault, Michael Minkler, Philippe Soucy, Christiane Paul, Krista Allen-Moritt, Celine Daignault, Catherine Lavoie, Renee April, Anne Alloucherie, Cheryl Murphy, Isabelle Blais, James Urbaniak, Shaun Balbar, Myron Nettinga, Michael Filipowich, Bridget Powers, Joseph J. Dawson, Miri Yoon, Edward Poveda, Melissa Carter, Ilona Elkin, Claudia Besso, Josette Perrotta, Krista Allen, Tabby Hanson, James D. Bissell, Linda Tomassone, Steven Soderbergh, Edward Tise, Marvin Walowitz, Pearl A. Lucero, Michael Cera, Bob Eubanks, Marlene Fisher, Jean-Pierre Paquet, Keshav Patel, Angel Radefeld, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Lazar, Stephen Mirrione, Fred Savage, Denise Marquez, Chad Saxton, David Julian Hirsh, Julie Garceau, Daniel Dallaire, Jaye P. Morgan, Roch Boucher, Nathalie Morin, Joe Cobden, Tanya Anthony, Leslie Cottle, George Jessel, Bryan Booth, Jean Levasseur, Spiro Tsovras, Martin Kevan, Jerry Weintraub, Kenneth Roth, Suzanne Coffman, Keith H. Sauter, Takashi Seida, George Randolph, Matt Damon, Kristen Wilson, Pascal Devigne, Bruce Pepper, Courtney Jackson, Marlida Ferreira, Joe Rangel, Andrew Silver, Rutger Hauer, Robert John Burke, Michelle Sweeney, David J. Webb, Chelsea Ceci, Jennifer Hall, Robert B. Baylis, Jeff Lefebvre, Artie Lange, Anna Silk, Suyun Kim, Peter N. Wilson, Jerome Tiberghien, Maria Bertrand, Felix Lariviere, Robert Burke, Frank Fontaine, Richard Beaudet, Angela Stauffer, Brian D. Wright, Russell Moore, Eames Gagnon, Carl Lessard, Peter G. Smith, Maria-Eve Bertrand, Nathalie Trepanier, Andre Minicozzi, Rand Ravich, Norman Roy See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 41 minutes
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Product Description

George Clooney (Ocean's Thirteen, Up in the Air) makes his directorial debut and stars alongside Drew Barrymore (He's Just Not That Into You), Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2) and Julia Roberts (Eat Pray Love) in the comedy thriller that poses an irresistible question: What would happen if a wildly successful TV producer was also a top secret CIA assassin? While a maverick creator of America's favorite game shows gains notoriety for his smash television hits, he is also drawn into a shadowy world of danger as a covert government operative! But soon his double life begins to spiral out of control. Based on Chuck Barris's cult classic autobiography, this entertaining comedy is a killer hit!

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ MRML45574BR
  • Director ‏ : ‎ George Clooney
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Widescreen, Subtitled, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2011
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Tim Merkel, Drew Barrymore, Michael Minkler, Anne Alloucherie, Stephen Mirrione
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Spanish
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Andrew Lazar, George Jessel
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Lionsgate
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005I0DV8A
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,121 ratings

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,121 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.
7 people found this helpful
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Dennis Littrell
5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of fun to watch
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016
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As I was watching this expecting not too much and a bit distracted I was wondering vaguely how this managed to get such a good cast. Surprisingly the movie surprised. This a fine example of the “hit man” genre infused with comedy. Yes, they made yet another hit man movie…I mean let’s glorify the poor bast…guys. So, so Hollywood. I actually Googled “hit man movies” and I was surprised at how many there have been. I’ve seen maybe a half dozen, and if I feel like making the effort I’ll look them up and make a list.

But this movie creates another genre: the hit man comedy. “Leon: The Professional” (1994) and “Panic” (2000) gave us the hit man we can identify with and empathize with while experiencing a little satirical intent along the way. But this expands the possibilities. I mean the hit man is Chuck Barris (oh, boy) of “The Gong Show” fame and infamy played by Sam Rockwell as the heroic flawed hero. (Story based on Barris’s own book. Ha!) And how did the director get such a great cast? I mean George Clooney, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts and Sam Rockwell. Answer: George Clooney directed a script by Charlie Kaufman. Yes, Clooney was the director and did an outstanding job; and yes, Charlie Kaufman is the author of screenplays for such cutting edge and entirely original films as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004) and “Being John Malkovich” (1999).

So yes I would be persuaded to take a role and not worry about the box office. BTW there are some interesting cameos including Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as The Dating Game contestants. They appear almost as sight jokes.

--Dennis Littrell, author of the movie review book, “Cut to the Chaise Lounge, or I Can’t Believe I Swallowed the Remote”
12 people found this helpful
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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.
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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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Jeff
4.0 out of 5 stars A unique man...
Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2022
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A very interesting look at the mind of a comic icon and show producer. If the facts of this movie are actually "facts", Mr. Barris was a very interesting and unique human. Based of of his memoir.
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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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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.
3 people found this helpful
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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.
3 people found this helpful
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