To the everyman or woman on the street, Chuck Barris is best known as the trippy host of "The Gong Show" from the 1970's. To some, he may also be known as the creator of such other facets of TV-Americana as "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game," and the writer of the song "Palisades Park." But would anyone have guessed his TV persona was all just the perfect cover for his secret life as an Independent, Undercover CIA Agent, who traveled the world offing bad guys? Well, the secret is out, and it's quite a story. Sam Rockwell portrays the pitch-man turned killer in this rollercoaster ride of a film that chronicles Barris' life from the day he was born right up through the present day.

From the get-go, we learn that Barris had quite the preoccupation with sex. These were not just the normal desires, mind you; he was obsessed with sex. By the time he finally meets Penny (Drew Barrymore), he has been with so many women he doesn't realize that he falls in love with her. Penny is of the same mind set sexually, as she rattles off the number of men and their nationalities as if they were days of the week. As the two start their enduring relationship, Barris is approached out of the blue by Jim Byrd (George Clooney), a CIA Agent who knows all about him and tells Barris he fits the profile of a CIA agent. "What profile?" Chuck asks. "THE Profile," Jim answers, and thus begins Barris' double-life as a secret agent.

Spackled together with confessionals from former "Gong Show" regulars and contestants, as well as from "The Dating Game" host Jim Lange, the lines of reality and fantasy are constantly blurred. Chaperoning game show winners in Helsinki or West Berlin suddenly becomes a cover for his assignments. As former associates admit Barris sometimes disappeared for days on end, the ridiculous notion begins to gain more validity. In the defining moment in the film, Barris tells Penny about his secret life, and the numerous murders he has committed. After a few seconds of pause, as she searches his face trying to acknowledge the idea, she bursts out laughing, realizing that she, and us as an audience, have been let in on the joke. Or have we?

Sam Rockwell shines in the role of Barris and is amazingly charming and funny. Just as Jim Carrey became Andy Kaufman for his role in "Man in the Moon," Rockwell embodies the gait, body language, and attitude of Chuck Barris. Probably best known for his work in "Galaxy Quest" as the hapless ship mate Guy Fleeman, Rockwell takes a gigantic leap forward and will hopefully be recognized for it. The accompanying characters are a great compliment to Rockwell, and the numerous cameos are also very amusing (keep a look out for Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as losers on "The Dating Game").

George Clooney excels in both of his roles. As CIA Agent Byrd, he is commanding and conniving, coercing Barris into doing anything he asks. However, as a first time Director, he shines. The visuals are inspiring, as scenes are whitewashed with color, and the transitions are a delight. Like black & white images filled in with color, the past is depicted as moving works of art, and the flow is amazing.

The film is strewn with foul language and sex, and never has there been a more fitting description for a dark-comedy. Not for the light of heart (or younger ears and eyes), "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" invites you to balance that line between imagination and reality, and enjoy the possibilities. If you can handle it, you'll be rightfully rewarded with an enjoyable film that is funny, dark, violent, and heartwarming all rolled into one.