Review of Barney's Version (2010) by Walter M — 13 Feb 2011

"Barney's Version" starts with Barney Panofsky(Paul Giamatti, who is tremendous) calling Blair(Bruce Greenwood), the current husband of his ex-wife, at 3:00 am to ask him if he wants any nude photos of his wife. So, of course, Barney gets the blame for Blair's mild heart attack. He also gets the blame from Sean O'Hearne(Mark Addy), a former cop and now writer, for a murder. That causes Barney to review all of the facts starting in Rome in 1974 when he is doing the honorable thing by marrying Clara(Rachelle Lefevre) after getting her pregnant. The thing is, the baby is not his. So, maybe he will have better luck with wife #2(Minnie Driver) which does not get off to an auspicious start when he notices Miriam Grant(Rosamund Pike) at the wedding whose charms hopefully extend beyond her cleavage and knowledge of cigars.

"Barney's Version" is a very funny and touching tragicomedy, that is maybe a little too long. It also features a superb supporting performance from Dustin Hoffman, as well as a couple of neat in-joke cameos, one of which I noticed at the time. The message of the movie is a simple one. Never, ever get married during the Stanley Cup Finals which probably explains why my brother got married in February. Seriously, it is about not taking marriage lightly, and to only go forward after a great deal of thought has been given and for only the right reasons which Barney does not always consider. And the thing with him is that he is loyal to a fault, but much more to his friends, than the women in his life. So, we can debate whether or not Barney is a good man, after he gives his version of events.