Tying into my last blog about the film Moon, Sam Rockwell continues to impress me. He stars in this 2002 bio-pic from director/Co-star George Clooney as Television legend Chuck Barris. Adapted from Barris' own autobiography, Confessions tells the story of the womanizing, charismatic, creator and host of such shows as The Gong Show, The Newlywed Game, The Dating Game, and also, he claims, CIA hitman.
Whether or not Barris ever actually worked for the CIA or killed the people he claimed to have in the book is still up for debate. He neither confirms nor denies it when interviewed, though those around him insist it is simply not possible. The film is interspersed with real interviews on the topic of Barris with people who knew him in his prime and downfall like Dick Clark, and people who worked with him on the game shows. The rest of the film chronicles Barris' rise and fall from his beginnings as an NBC page and his descent into alcoholism.
Rockwell is perfectly cast as Barris and gives an emotional and powerful performance. One thing I have always admired about Rockwell is his total willingness to look completely disgusting and unattractive, which he takes to new heights towards the end of the film. George Clooney is good as always as the CIA operative that ropes Barris into service. Clooney is one of those actors who usually plays themselves over and over again in some incarnation, but I'm okay with it because I like who he is. Drew Barrymore plays Barris' long-term love interest; a free-thinking hippy who Chuck cheats on multiple times. Julia Roberts is one of the "other women", but she is really another member of the CIA just doing her job and keeping an eye on him. Also keep a look out for Brad Pitt and Matt Damon in cameo roles as two contestants on The Dating Game. Micheal Cera also makes an appearance as a very young Chuck in flashbacks.
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