Moore’s ‘Bowling’ spares no one

Michael Moore, who brought us the documentaries “Roger and Me” and

“The Big One,” as well as the TV series “TV Nation” and “The Awful

Truth,” now turns his focus to the National Rifle Assn. and TV media

in “Bowling for Columbine.”

The title is derived from the report that Littleton, Colo.,

killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went to bowling class before

they committed a massacre at Columbine High School.

Moore leaves no stone unturned in this frank and stark expose of

what makes the United States different from all other countries:

death from gun violence. Some have criticized Moore for taking

comments out of context, and staging certain scenes. Regardless, the

footage when filtered through Moore’s perspective has clarity, humor,

emotion and insight.

Moore begins the film by visiting a Michigan bank that gives new

customers a free gun when opening a bank account. Moore confronts

Marilyn Manson, Dick Clark, K Mart, the Michigan Militia and Charlton

Heston with surprising and revealing results.

Manson replies with empathy and intelligence when Moore asks him

what he would have said to Columbine shooters, Harris and Klebold:

“Nothing. I would have listened, because no one else did.” He also

boils down the problems of today’s culture to “consumption and fear.”

Heston and Clark are seen floundering and fleeing from

confrontation. Two victims from the Columbine shooting accompany

Moore to K Mart’s corporate headquarters, where they plead with K

Mart executives to cease selling ammunition like that that was used

at Columbine.

Moore contrasts the United States with its neighbor Canada with

funny and intriguing interviews and comparisons. An almost too rapid,

humorous yet unsettling animated short is tossed into the mix to

explain the “History of America” and how a legal organization called

the NRA came into existence at the time that the Klu Klux Klan was

deemed illegal.

Moore slings mud in many directions, including at media-fed racist

paranoia. Deciding where the mud lands most prominently is up to the

viewer. Even with the R rating, this film should be required viewing

in junior high school. In the meantime, see it yourself and then show

it to your kids.

* RAY BUFFER, 33, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over

artist.

‘Confessions’ succeeds in dangerous territory

Some cynics claim there are only four or five movie plots in

existence. Films usually fall into some neat category such as

romantic comedy, action, musical, etc. Such is not the case with

“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.”

“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” is written by perhaps the most

imaginative screenwriter working today, Charlie Kaufman, and is based

on the unauthorized autobiography of the same title by “Dating Game”

and “Gong Show” creator Chuck Barris. Kaufman screenplays have always

proved to be something special and include the uniquely original

“Being John Malkovich” and the semi-autographical “Adaptation.”

One might wonder why anybody would want to make a film about

Barris, who may have created some of the most mindless entertainment

in TV history. It doesn’t help that Barris claims to have performed

33 contract murders while secretly working for the CIA. Barris claims

to have performed these hits while chaperoning “Dating Game” winners

to exotic locales.

Bringing such a tale to the screen is analogous to walking a

tightrope. Played as pure comedy, this story would be as forgettable

as a bad “Get Smart” episode. Produced as a serious tale of murder

and espionage, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” would simply be

unbelievable and ridiculous.

Fortunately, in addition to the brilliant Kaufman screenplay, the

film benefits from the sure hand of first-time director George

Clooney, who also appears as Barris’ CIA contact, Jim Byrd.

Barris’ career in entertainment is shown from his first job as an

NBC page in the 1950s to the giddy success of “The Dating Game,” “The

Newlywed Game” and “The Gong Show.” The wardrobe, hairstyles,

automobiles, offices and homes faithfully portray the flavor of the

various eras. The game shows excerpts are often quite funny, a mix of

actual clips and recreated scenes. This aspect of the film is

probably more enjoyable for those who remember these shows.

Two women serve as bookends to Barris’ public and private

personas. Patricia (Julia Roberts) is the classic femme fatale, a

mysterious secret agent he encounters on his murderous assignments.

The other is Penny (Drew Barrymore), the ever faithful “hippie chick”

who constantly forgives his monumental character flaws and numerous

peccadilloes.

Sam Rockwell stars as Barris in a breakthrough performance.

Rockwell’s Barris is a man with the brains and gumption to succeed in

an incredibly competitive business, yet he is plagued by a nagging

emptiness. It is never clear if his self-loathing is due to his much

maligned contribution to American culture or his secret life.

Was Barris really a CIA assassin? Only Barris knows and he won’t

discuss it.

Whether he is or not, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” is a

funny, touching, and truly different film that is definitely worth

seeing.

* VAN NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional research at

Cal State Long Beach.