Synopsis
The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
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Cast
- Paul GiamattiBarney Panofsky
- Dustin HoffmanIzzy Panofsky
- Rosamund PikeMiriam Grant-Panofsky
- Minnie DriverThe 2nd Mrs. P
- Scott SpeedmanBoogie
- Rachelle LefevreClara 'Chambers' Charnofsky
- Bruce GreenwoodBlair
- Mark AddyDetective O'Hearne
- Macha GrenonSolange
- Jake HoffmanMichael Panofsky
Recommendations
- 83
Entertainment Weekly
Paul Giamatti, dialing down his trembly-voiced neurotic energy to good effect, gives a holy hell of a performance as Barney Panofsky. - 80
Boxoffice Magazine
Barney's Version is one of those rare films whose caricature of life undeniably illuminates. It's the vivid story of the topsy-turvy character so flawed you love him despite yourself. - 75
Christian Science Monitor
An overstuffed odyssey that, while disappointing on many levels, has standout performances by Paul Giamatti. - 75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
A feisty domestic comedy about a curmudgeon with a heart, looking back over his misspent life. - 70
Movieline
Barney's Version is too much of a sprawl to have much of a lasting emotional effect. - 70
The New York Times
In spite of Mr. Giamatti's ferociously energetic performance Barney's Version never figures out just who Barney is. - 67
IndieWire
The highbrow intentions of Barney's Version suffer from a constant pile up of dead ends. - 60
Time Out
Even if you can forgive the crude JAP caricatures (et tu Minnie Driver?) and the blatantness of the film's attempts to make you sob, you're still left with lovely actors stuck in a lackluster cover version of the real thing.
