Barney’s Version

[jem&theholograms]

I went to the Clapham screening also, enjoyed the film - found it quite gentle, refreshing and unpretentious. Was nice to see something with a bit of heart and some great darkly comedic lines. Though Paul Giamatti reminds me of my dad so it always makes watching him a bit odd. I was transfixed by Dustin's outie too! An 8 from me overall.

[rawsalsa]

Although overlong, I agree with many of the posts in that this was a funny, romantic and moving film and I felt for the main characters, which were acted well, in particular by Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike and Dustin Hoffman.

[Aquaman84]

Richard J. Lewis’ adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s book of the same name is a film that I found full of promise but it ultimately failed to deliver on its more intriguing aspects. Barney Panofsky is a gruff, belligerent, chain-cigar-smoking alcoholic who is portrayed finely by Paul Giamatti. We see his life told through flash-backs after a book is published accusing him of murdering his best friend and this is interspersed with scenes of the current Barney slowly submitting to Alzheimer’s.

In terms of production and performance this film is great; as above Giamatti is very good as the titular Barney (though I don’t think it is a great performance as some have stated, especially when compared to Giamatti’s turn as Harvey Pekar) and he is supported very ably including Minnie Driver as the second Mrs. Panofsky – she did a Masters don’t you know, Rosamund Pike’s almost ethereal Miriam, Scott Speedman’s enjoyable drug-addicted pseudo-novelist best friend “Boogie” and Dustin Hoffman is fantastically funny as his ex-policeman father, Izzy.

The problem for me comes from the fact that there are a number of plot strands which just don’t fit together and are not taken as far as is necessary to reach their full potential. The onset of Barney’s Alzheimer’s which occurs in the present seems almost incidental and when there seemed the possibility of an interesting ‘unreliable narrator’ it was never really taken advantage of – this I believe is more prevalent in the novel. The two strands of the story that are dealt with during the flashbacks are Barney’s friendship with (and the disappearance of) “Boogie” and his romantic entanglements. The “Boogie” storyline seems like it should be given prominence in the flashbacks given the situation in the present with the book, but things take a decidedly different turn and the film focuses more on the romances (if they can be called that). As for those, Barney’s first marriage seems mostly unnecessary although setting up a prominent motif throughout and the second marriage is almost an elaborate plot device to serve the Boogie storyline. All of these things feel somewhat confused and half-baked and although they make for really interesting ideas, they also seem unsatisfactory in conclusion.

However, the film‘s real focus (and the focus of the nostalgic protagonist) is Barney’s relationship with Miriam. Barney’s crazed pursuit of her (the first time he meets her we see him unsuccessfully attempt to do what all good rom-coms would use as the climax), their relationship and life together both good and bad. It is these moments that we see the truly nuanced performance from Giamatti as Barney is rude and obnoxious to Miriam’s friends, unsupportive in her career and yet cannot bare to be away from her for more than a day.

There are many good parts of Barney’s Version; the performances are all good and it is enjoyable and funny but I felt that the most interesting aspects took a back seat and left me ultimately dissatisfied.

My score: 6.5/10

[Ms Thrifty]

Couldn't see this until today as no previews in my area. I did quite like it and Rosamund Pike is always interesting and watchable, but I didn't find it credible that a character like Barney, who was both physically and morally unattractive, should have found not one or even two but three women apparently not only willing but eager to marry him, still less that the best of the bunch should have stuck with him so long. There was plenty (in rather a long, rambling film) to enjoy: Dustin Hoffman was also entertaining and I thought the two children genuinely looked as if they could have been the offspring of Barney and Miriam, which is unusual; also, the ageing was done particularly well.

[andrews]

I saw this yesterday, and was fully captivated by it. What an interesting storyline, interwoven with comedy, pathos, drama - a bit of everything. There was some fine acting here, particularly by Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike and Dustin Hoffman. I felt that Giamatti was made for this role. The make-up department needs some acknowledgement here, because Giamatti's aging was excellent (unlike Rosamund Pike, who did not get a wrinkle!)

Thoroughly enjoyable! Go and see it if and when you get the chance.

[Spanner]

saw this yesterday and found myself having the odd smirk here and there but then again after just watching the woeful hereafter a video of a funeral would've been a light relief.

At first I thought Barney was a right git and wanted bad things to happen to him, can't say I'd warmed much by the end of the film and the film was somewhat spoilt by a right nagging feeling that I've seen a film or two of a very similar vein previously. I can't for the life of me put my finger on what films they could be but it all felt a little familiar. loved the dad character, glad they didn't give us too much of him though. oh and i think they overplayed the realisation of what happened to his best mate a little too much, yeah we got it, yeah we got it, yeah yeah we can see what happened, oh just stop it now will ya!

oh and my cinematic experience was enhanced somewhat by the appearance of my local cinema going tramp half way through the film - and this is true - there is a tramp that frequents boldon cinema's and the number 26 bus route, a quite bizarre little man with a beeny hat and a few big carrier bags. he always comes in half way through a film, sits in the middle of the front row, rustles around in his carrier bags, stares at the floor for about an hour and then leaves well before the film ends, he tends to favour weekend screenings. oh well 6.75/10 for barney

[hottips]

I liked this enormously, it was a very interesting movie, and quite funny at times. Dustin Hoffman got all the good lines and delivered them with aplomb. Rosamund Pike was fantastic (and sorry but she is too good looking for Paul Giamatti's character, it must have been the insistant wooing). It may have been an unusual life but it wasn't all that extraordinary, I mean, he wasn't a spy or anything. He just had a few women in his life, lost his best friend in an accident and then suffered from dementia in the end. But it was told so nicely, and he was a good bloke - apart from that one unfortunate transgression he wasn't even clever enough to lie about.

Just catching up on posts etc and realised ( a bit late now) that I did not submit a review.
Great to see Beate and OH again and lovely to meet hdaniel82. I really did enjoy this movie - very touching.

In terms of my thoughts I have to say that I agree with Beate on this one.

7/10

[Preston1990]

Saw this the other day at Boldon. Was quite late into the screening as there were a few problems with public transport. There often is on the no. 26 route. Just plonked myself down in the middle of the front row, so as not to cause disruption to the others in the cinema, and quietly packed my hat away into one of my bags. The film didn't really do it for me so left well before the end.....

But seriously...................

I thought the film was pretty darn good (if a little on the long side), a nice blend of the humourous, sad, romantic and poignant. Some great acting courtesy of Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike and Minnie Driver. Couldn't help but feel sad for Barney at the outcome of his stupidity. 7.5 out of 10.

[Spanner]

omg preston, how funny! i was laughing til i cried when i read this. I was trying to read it out to the boyf but was laughing so much he couldn't really understand what i was saying and i turned to see his shocked face. I asked him what was wrong and he thought it was the tramp who'd posted above! (mind he might not be far wrong given some of preston's home made haircuts which he tries to blame on the fragrant mrs preston)