Barney’s Version is a funny, rude, charming, and fun adventure about one man’s life and his hits and misses at love. Director Richard J. Lewis lets the film span over several decades through a guy’s marriages and divorces and lets the audience watch the main character go wild, but brings it all in by the end of the film where the real heart of the story is. Lewis is able to balance comedy and tragedy, and does a great job telling the tale of life and love in just a little over two hours.
Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) is a TV producer, hockey fanatic, and loves to drink and smoke cigars. He is blunt, rude, foul-mouthed, and hateful at times, but make no mistake, he loves women. He marries and almost as soon as the marriage begins, he is talking to another woman. And actually, when he meets the love of his life, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), it is at his own wedding. Throughout Barney’s Version, Barney’s memories, decisions and relationships are revealed and depicted for better (marriages, women, children) or worse (divorces, cheating, and murder). It is a hell of a ride but could not be more interesting or entertaining.
The heart and soul of this film is Giamatti. He takes a character like Barney, who is grumpy, bitter, egotistical and someone we should not care about and somehow makes him sweet, loving, and endearing. Even when he is being an asshole, we manage to forgive him. That is the powerful talent of Giamatti and the transformation he brings to his character.
As Barney, he commands attention and through it all, shows you a different side of a man who we thought we already had figured out. It is no secret that Giamatti is an amazing actor (Sideways, Cinderella Man, John Adams), but Barney’s Version brings out the best in him and he just seems like he was born to play this part. His performance in this is nothing short of spectacular.
Another wonderful thing about this film is its supporting cast. Pike, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman, and Dustin Hoffman are amazing in this. Speedman has not been given a real shot to show depth in his other movies (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution), but as Barney’s best friend, he is given the platform to really showcase his talent. And Hoffman steals every scene he is in by being the outspoken, embarrassing, and straight-to-the-point father of Barney.
Pike plays the only true love of Barney and she is excellent. She plays a woman and a wife who puts up with a lot. She is loving and understanding, but never weak. She doesn’t let Barney get away with anything. The final scenes between Giamatti and Pike cannot be missed. It is wonderful, heartbreaking, and touching all at once.
Barney’s Version is well-crafted, intelligent storytelling with some amazing actors giving it their best. Barney is someone who you could love to hate, but eventually you can not help yourself but to simply love him. No matter what he says or does, you just cannot stop smiling or laughing with or at him. There is humor in this story, but also real sentiment along with it.
Life and love can get outrageous, troublesome and ridiculous, and we all have stories to share just like Barney. This film lets you look at his life and observe it, maybe judge it, but you will certainly recognize some part of it that reminds you of the life you are living right this moment.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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