What's truth and what's fiction? That's a hard question to answer when it comes to the life of TV producer and "The Gong Show" host and creator, who is the subject of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," directed by George Clooney, who makes his debut in that role.

With a Charlie Kaufman ("Adaptation," "Being John Malkovich") screenplay based on Barris' autobiography, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" is either the rollicking rollercoaster story of Barris' life as a television renegade and a dangerous killer for hire, or it's half true. Either way, it's fun to watch.

Barris (Sam Rockwell) says from the start that most of the time his sights were set on female genitalia and his quest of it. But that's not entirely true. When young Barris decides he wants to enter the world of television, he heads to New York, gets a job as an NBC page and aims at the management training program.

When that doesn't work out -- and when he gets a fellow page pregnant -- he splits for ABC and lands a job keeping an eye on Dick Clark during the payola scandals.

That has the double benefit of launching his TV career and an erstwhile career as a songwriter; Clark gets Barris' song "Palisades Park" to a young star and the song is a hit. But Barris has ideas for shows of his own and his first, "The Dating Game," becomes a years-long project.

Meanwhile, CIA operative Jim Byrd (Clooney) approaches Barris and asks him to become a hitman. The every-hungry-for-action Barris agrees and heads off to murder camp, where he learns the tricks of the trade. In almost no time, he's got his first kill and he appears addicted.

Meanwhile, he's met Penny (Drew Barrymore), who looks to become the love of his life, if he can just get his act together and stop cheating on her. Ah, yes, he also needs to overcome that deathly fear of commitment. But meeting sexy fellow assassin Patricia Watson (Julia Roberts) complicates that, and other, matters.

All the while, Barris lives a wild life of women, drink and weed. His shows become covers for his CIA activities and by the time he's creating controversy with "The Gong Show," Barris' life begins to come apart at the scenes from stress and paranoia.

Interspersed are clips of interviews with real-life friends and co-workers, like Dick Clark, Jaye P. Morgan, Gene Gene the Dancing Machine and the Unknown Comic. They all seem to agree with Morgan, who says (and I paraphrase), even though Barris was a pr*ck, he was a wonderful guy. Even they can't say whether or not the hitman jive is true.

A few funny moments come from cameos. On one episode of "The Dating Game," a contestant chooses a chubby and unattractive bachelor #3 over bachelors #1 (Brad Pitt) and #2 (Matt Damon).

Portraying a character so conflicted can't be an easy task but Rockwell works wonders and is fascinating to watch. He perfectly captures the joy and satisfaction of Barris seeing his shows make it to the airwaves; his painful inability to commit to Penny, despite his deep love for her; and his wicked taste for his work as a hired gun.

Clooney directs with aplomb, getting the most from Rockwell and keeping the pace flying, but his performance as Byrd is uninspired. Barrymore is charming as Penny, but doesn't appear to be acting. She's being herself and Penny ends up feeling like little more than a nickname for Barrymore herself.

"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" opens Fri., Jan. 24.