This true or false BIO written by Chuck Barris makes for an interesting film, especially if you are familiar with Chuck Barris and the tv shows he was involved with from The Dating Game to The Gong Show. These were shows somewhat similar to the so-called reality tv shows we see today, but Barris's work began a few decades ago, which put him a bit ahead of his time, considering how risque these shows were back then.
The crux of the whole thing is this: While producing and hosting tv gameshows, Chuck Barris claims in his Bio that he was also a CIA assassin.
The film covers a good part of Chuck Barris's career, from his early days in tv ( and the CIA ) right up to when he finally crashes and burns after being trashed unmercifully by critics over what he was doing on tv, especially The Gong Show, where average people made fools of themselves on tv in front of millions of viewers. Sound familiar ?
We never really know whether or not Barris was an CIA assassin. Even he won't say it's the truth. When asked during an interview in the extras, he smiles and says. " I'll never tell."
This is a very stylistic film, directed by George Clooney, and done quite well for his first attempt. The color palette is somewhat strange at times, going from blown out high contrast, to pastel fleshtones to normal. The film stars Sam Rockwell as Chuck Barris and man, does he nail it. He has the Barris mannerisms down pat. Rockwell is even built like and looks like Chuck Barris. George Clooney co-stars as the CIA contact who gets Barris involved. Juilia Roberts plays an assassin who worked frequently with Barris. Drew Barrymore plays Chuck's main squeeze . And aside from a cute cameo by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon on a Dating Game sequence, the highlight of this film is a small part played by Rutger Hauer as one of Barris's co-assassins. A small role, but Rutger the ol' pro milks it for all it is worth.
An interesting evening's watch.
:4:
My Homepage!
The crux of the whole thing is this: While producing and hosting tv gameshows, Chuck Barris claims in his Bio that he was also a CIA assassin.
The film covers a good part of Chuck Barris's career, from his early days in tv ( and the CIA ) right up to when he finally crashes and burns after being trashed unmercifully by critics over what he was doing on tv, especially The Gong Show, where average people made fools of themselves on tv in front of millions of viewers. Sound familiar ?
We never really know whether or not Barris was an CIA assassin. Even he won't say it's the truth. When asked during an interview in the extras, he smiles and says. " I'll never tell."
This is a very stylistic film, directed by George Clooney, and done quite well for his first attempt. The color palette is somewhat strange at times, going from blown out high contrast, to pastel fleshtones to normal. The film stars Sam Rockwell as Chuck Barris and man, does he nail it. He has the Barris mannerisms down pat. Rockwell is even built like and looks like Chuck Barris. George Clooney co-stars as the CIA contact who gets Barris involved. Juilia Roberts plays an assassin who worked frequently with Barris. Drew Barrymore plays Chuck's main squeeze . And aside from a cute cameo by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon on a Dating Game sequence, the highlight of this film is a small part played by Rutger Hauer as one of Barris's co-assassins. A small role, but Rutger the ol' pro milks it for all it is worth.
An interesting evening's watch.
:4:
My Homepage!
Comment