Barney’s Version
{5/5} “I’m just gonna keep talking here, ’cause I’m afraid that if I stop there’s gonna be a pause or a break and you’re gonna say ‘It’s getting late’ or ‘I should get going’, and I’m not ready for that to happen. I don’t want that to happen. Ever.”
Barney’s Version, released in 2010
Barney seems like he’s been worn down by life and he’s not very nice to other people, with the exception of his daughter. How did he get this way? Most of the movie is a huge flashback, including the part you might remember from the trailer — where he meets the woman of his dreams at his own wedding.
What this movie has is interesting characters that make you want to watch what they’ll do. Barney is not always easy to get along with, but he’s likeable in his way. He has some adventures in Europe with a couple of friends when he’s young, and returns to the US to be a TV producer. He’s a big fan of hockey, smoking, and drinking. Usually movie protagonists aren’t as flawed as Barney but people do have flaws in real life.
Paul Giamatti (Sideways) is fabulous as Barney — he goes through a significant transformation as he ages decades. Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day) is tremendous as Miriam, the woman of his dreams. Scott Speedman (the TV show Felicity) is Barney’s friend Boogie. Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man) is hilarious as Barney’s father. Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek), and Mark Addy (The Full Monty) are along for the ride.
The movie is based on the novel by Mordecai Richler.
It was directed by Richard J. Lewis (the TV series CSI and Person of Interest).