Apparently, television isn't as glamorous as it looks. There is a lot of slow time in your life. If you're like producer Chuck Barris, you get hired as a contract killer to make the day move along faster.

At least that is the premise of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," based on the autobiography by Barris, best known as the host of "The Gong Show," and creator of such television staples as "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game."

Enthralled by television as a youngster, Barris (Rockwell) begins his career as a page at NBC. After being fired, he moves to ABC where he is told to "keep an eye on Dick Clark" during the tapings of "American Bandstand". An amateur songwriter, Barris, with Clark's help, gets his song "Palisades Park" recorded by Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon. He keeps saving his money, waiting for the moment when he will be asked to do a pilot. When the time comes, he proposes a show called "The Dating Game." Though positive at first, the ABC brass eventually nix the show in favor of "Hootenanny". Dejected, Barris goes for a drink at his local bar, where he is recruited by a mysterious man in a moustache (Clooney) to be a contract agent. After 8 weeks in spy school (where he is seen talking to two other recruits referred to as "Jack" and "Lee" -- obvious Kennedy assassination references), Barris is sent to Mexico for his first "job." Upon returning home, he discovers that ABC wants to put "The Dating Game" on the daytime schedule. After a few problems involving the contestants and their more-than-graphic answers, the FCC steps in and tells prospective daters that any "non-American" comments will get them sent to jail. Things go smoothly after that. Barris goes on to more television success, all the while killing various enemies of democracy. He is so into the spy life that "The Dating Game" winners end up with trips to Helsinki or "beautiful West Berlin." This way, Barris can play the chaperone and carry out his contract at the same time!

As unbelievable as the story seems, the cast and crew do their best to keep your interest. Rockwell is outstanding as Barris. He captures all of the outrageous traits "Gong Show" viewers will remember, while also wrestling with a boat load of unseen demons. Barrymore shines as the girl who just wants Chuck to love her. Clooney, Roberts and Hauer have basically small supporting roles, but they play them perfectly. As for Clooney's direction - it is quite obvious that he can have a career behind the camera anytime he wants. His flowing camera work and darkly lit atmosphere goes a long way towards cementing the authenticity of the story. My personal highlight is when an often rumored "Newlywed Game" urban legend is proven to be true, thanks to archival footage!

Though slow-moving at times, this film certainly holds your attention. With interviews of Dick Clark, Jaye P. Morgan, Gene Gene the Dancing Machine and others interspliced throughout, many of them commenting on the fact that Barris would disappear for weeks at a time, you certainly leave the theatre wondering. On a scale of zero to four stars I give "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"