Review of Barney's Version (2010) by Carolyn W — 19 Feb 2011
Amazing performance by Giamatti. He goes from a youngish guy to seemingly ancient, puts on 30 pounds, grow fleshy and saggy around jaw and neck, turns into an invalid. The posture, expressions, everything is most most convincing.
Performances by Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike and really everyone in the cast were fantastic. There is not much of a plot, just Barney's life. He is a degenerate, incorrigible, schmaltzy going from one woman to another until he finds true love.
Nothing in the reviews prepared me to laugh out loud or to shed a tear. Often I did not buy the premises, but was all too happy to go along for the ride. I found myself wondering three quarters of the way through, how it would end.
It was not predictable. The shots of Rome in the 1970's were nostalgic and the Jewish wedding and clashes between Barney's uptight in laws and his spontaneous police officer dad are hysterical.
One of the most engaging movies I've seen in a while.
This review of Barney's Version (2010) was written by Carolyn W on 19 Feb 2011.
Barney's Version has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
