A Look at the Movie – a Review

Barney could be a firefighter though he isn’t. His first wife commits suicide and he meets the love of his life, his third wife, at his second wedding. Sound vaguely familiar?

Barney’s Version, based on the acclaimed novel by Canadian author Mordecai Richler, is his quasi-autobiographical story as told through one Barney Panofsky, a profane, hard-drinking, Jewish TV producer in Montreal.

Paul Giamatti (John Adams in the HBO series) plays Barney and his father is Dustin Hoffman, appearing as a hilarious retired Montreal police detective.  Hoffman is superb—daffy and embarrassing one moment and a fount of wisdom the next.  He’s Archie bunker as a mensch.

The film is Barney’s adult life story spanning three marriages and countless bottles of scotch and not a few joints.  He discovers his second wife in bed with his best friend, shots are fired and the police become involved.  Firefighters will enjoy the explanation for the “disappeared” body.

Don’t worry- I haven’t revealed the movie in the least.  The last hour of the film is extraordinary with an unexpected plot twist introducing a very relevant topic. The end of the film is refreshingly real and very poignant.

Oh, and if nothing above piques your interest Barney’s third wife, Rosamund Pike playing Miriam Geenberg, will.  She is amazing in every way.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Enjoy the Trailer:

Barney’s Version was filmed in Montreal, Rome and New York, and runs 132 minutes.  It was released in Canada on Dec. 24 and will open in U. S. theaters this week.