Synopsis
First he got married. Then he got married again. Then he met the love of his life.
The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
2010 Directed by Richard J. Lewis
The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
Paul Giamatti Dustin Hoffman Rosamund Pike Minnie Driver Scott Speedman Rachelle Lefevre Bruce Greenwood Mark Addy Macha Grenon Jake Hoffman Anna Hopkins Saul Rubinek Harvey Atkin Linda Sorensen Brittany Drisdelle Thomas Trabacchi Clé Bennett Paul Gross Maury Chaykin Larry Day Mark Camacho Harry Strandjofski Atom Egoyan David Cronenberg Ted Kotcheff David Pryde Paula Jean Hixson Marica Pellegrinelli Domenico Minutoli Show All…
Serendipity Point Films Fandango Essential Entertainment Téléfilm Canada Lyla Films Corus Entertainment Astral Media Sony Pictures Classics
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“I’m a Vegan.”
”A what? Is that treatable?”
Hi everyone, just your weekly reminder that Paul Giamatti is ridiculously under appreciated.
He did win a Golden Globe for this performance though, so I expected him to be really good in this (as always). He is, but the movie itself is so much better than I expected. This film won a ton of Genie awards, which is essentially the Canadian Oscars, so at least it got more recognition than I originally realized.
This is how a Dramedy should be. Giamatti’s Barney Panofsky is an absolute asshole, but he has so much charisma that it’s impossible not to root for him. Barney’s dad, played by Dustin Hoffman, is also an asshole with…
It's not often you see an American comedy that doesn't rub punchlines in your face. I felt like the director was giving me a little respect. Very refreshing.
Recommended.
Paul Giamatti is really great as always, he plays a complete dick. Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, and Rosamund Pike are solid as well. The first half is really darkly funny, then it turns into a drama, and then it turns into a weepy, sappy, sentimental, phony bullshit movie. I’d never heard of this, yet it seemed like Oscar Bait. I dunno if the studio buried it because they realized what a mess the movie truly was. It has a runtime of 2hr and 15min. Blah, yeah it was blah.
I have to admit I was having a hard time with this one at the start, not being familiar with the book it was based on I could not see what it was getting at or point it was making, and so for about 25 minutes I was wondering if I had wasted my time turning this on in the first place. But random movies have a way of sneaking up on you and furtively speaking to you on a more personal level, which is what happened here for me.
At the start, Paul Giamatti's cocky showboat Barney is married and that dissolves, and then he marries again. At that second wedding, I laid eyes on Rosamund Pike. So does…
This movie felt like bullshit if only for the reason that beautiful women give a man who looks like Paul Giamatti so many chances. Is this Hollywood romanticism or what being in your 30s is really like???
I need answers!!! Otherwise, I might never go to the gym again!
Barney’s Version is a life-affirming and life-spanning drama with the type of difficult, abrasive yet compelling curmudgeon lead that only Giamatti was born to play and give the required justice. He often tackles the difficult roles, and this is a fine example. In fact, his Golden Globe winning performance here saves the film, along with some solid work from the rest of the ensemble. Whilst a little rambling and messy in its narrative delivery, and slow to kick into gear, the tableau of life presented here is ultimately very rewarding. Affectionate, funny, insightful, complicated and even downright excruciating (the pier scene!), it's an unapologetic Canadian life journey through the trials and tribulations of love, a reminder that matters of the heart can never be planned, they just are. Also includes a priceless cameo from Cronenberg. It's one of those middling films raised to a higher tier by Giamatti's central casting.
Fine adaptation with an impressive cast, compelling script, and Paul Giamatti proving how great he is. It's fairly predictable and drags a bit, but the Giamatti/Hoffman father and son duo makes it worth the watch.
I really enjoyed this movie and all of Barney's ups and downs. It's really a comedy/drama because at times I was laughing and then the sad feels would switch on too.
Paul Giamatti is in top form as Barney, so is Dustin Hoffman, whose role is way too small. Tons of familiar Canadian actors in this that I recognize. It was mostly ignored by the Oscars but came home with a ton of the Canadian equivalent, well deserved.
I’m sorry, I had difficulty watching this without thinking Rosamund Pike was playing a version of Gone Girl’s Amy after leaving Ben Affleck
Has anyone in cinematic history punched above his weight more than Paul Giamatti when it comes to onscreen romances ? I mean this movie had three for the price of one .
An excellent watch and Rosamund Pike once again is the standout .
You get fantastic performances all around, but Paul Giammati truly makes this his show. He is simply outstanding. I'm a huge fan of the guy and I'd like to see as many films of him as possible. He certainly doesn't disappoint and neither does this film. It's funny, but even more complex and compelling. It's a captivating, real, relatable, and insightful character study that takes a look into the modern romance.
“This chicken is delicious.”
“It’s fish.”
“Shit. Really?”
Such a weirdly structured and designed movie. Also so very sad. It goes in one direction and one direction only, and we surely get there after a series of heartbreaks. I watched this last when it came out and it always stuck with me. The feeling, not the story. Watching it again all these years later, I still like it, but not as much as that first viewing. Giamatti delivers one of the very best performances of his career. For every thing that this movie is not, for how it relentlessly goes against convention within the frame of these types of stories (and also for Rosamund Pike), Barney’s Version is very much worth the watch.