Clooney’s chatter outshines his film

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

George Clooney, Sam Rockwell

Miramax, $30

Clooney’s audio commentary on his feature directorial debut is so much fun one just wishes his movie was more enjoyable. A serious film buff, Clooney talks about how such classics as “A Place in the Sun” influenced some of the scenes in “Confessions.”

Based on the cult book by Chuck Barris, creator of “The Dating Game,” “The Newlywed Game” and “The Gong Show,” “Confessions” boasts a complex performance from Rockwell that manages to capture the essence of Barris -- who in the book claimed he was also a hit man for the C.I.A. -- without falling into imitation. But the uneven tone proves to be the film’s downfall.

The DVD also features entertaining featurettes, an interview with Barris, Rockwell’s impressive screen test, a stills gallery and deleted scenes with optional commentary from Clooney and cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel.

*

The Core

Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank

Paramount, $30

Watching the behind-the-scenes documentaries and listening to the audio commentary from film’s very polite British director Jon Amiel, one would think “The Core” was the “Citizen Kane” of sci-fi thrillers. Amiel, the writers, producers, special effects artists and cast talk about the brilliance of the script, the marvelous performances and the cutting-edge special effects.

Truth be told, “The Core” is really a throwback to those silly but enormously entertaining Irwin Allen disaster flicks from the 1970s, such as “The Poseidon Adventure” or “The Towering Inferno,” in which all-star casts spew inane dialogue as they battle tremendous odds to save lives. This time around, the planet’s core has stopped spinning and a group of experts is sent into the inner earth in a previously untried ship to jump-start the core and save the world. It’s the type of film best watched munching on a big tub of popcorn.

Besides the commentary and featurettes, the DVD also features 10 deleted and extended scenes with commentary from Amiel.

*

Bulletproof Monk

Chow Yun-Fat,

Seann William Scott

MGM, $27

This martial-arts adventure based on the popular underground comic book is pretty much a washout despite the endearing charisma of Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat. He plays a monk with no name who for the past 60 years has dedicated his life to protecting a sacred scroll that will give its possessor the power to rule the world. Scott, in a rare action role, plays a petty thief whom the monk thinks has the makings of a disciple.

The by-the-numbers, digital edition includes featurettes, deleted scenes with commentary from editor Robert K. Lambert, more from screenwriters Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris and another commentary track with first-time feature director Paul Hunter and producers Charles Roven and Douglas Segal.

*

Malibu’s Most Wanted

Keili Lefkowitz, Jamie Kennedy

Warner Home Video, $28

Anybody who has seen his WB sketch series, “JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” knows the young comic can be a very funny guy. And one of his most popular characters on the series is a Malibu-born rapper named B-Rad. But a little of B-Rad goes a long way, as witness this rather witless comedy which finds B-Rad’s hip-hop antics getting in the way of his father’s (Ryan O’Neal) campaign for governor. The digital edition features deleted scenes and commentary from Kennedy, director John Whitsell, Anderson and co-star Regina Hall.

*

Gwyneth Paltrow stars as a small-town girl with big dreams in “View From the Top” (Miramax: $29.99).

*

Also this week

The trials of a loving matriarchal family is “Dysfunktional Family” (Miramax: $29.99); “Russian Ark” (Wellspring: $29.98); “The Guys” (Universal: $26.98).

Top VHS rentals

1. “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”

2. “Bringing Down the House”

3. “Chicago”

4. “The Hunted”

5. “Head of State”

Top DVD rentals

1. “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”

2. “Bringing Down the House”

3. “Chicago”

4. “The Hunted”

5. “Head of State”

What’s coming

Tuesday: “Anger Management” and “Confidence”

Sept. 23: “Daddy Day Care,” “Holes,” “A Mighty Wind,” “The Dancer Upstairs,” “The Shape of Things” and “Chateau”

Sept. 30: “2 Fast 2 Furious,” “Bend It Like Beckham,” “Dreamcatcher,” “Nowhere in Africa,” “Better Luck Tomorrow,” “Boat Trip” and “The Sea”

-- Susan King