Barney's Version

First he got married. Then he got married again. Then he met the love of his life.

As Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), the aging producer of a crappy TV show, is looking back on his life, he recalls how he stumbled into three marriages. This film version of a highly acclaimed novel may not have the advantage of author Mordecai Richler’s playful approach to literary conventions, but is nevertheless a funny and touching chronicle of a flawed, human life as lived by a man who has only a vague idea of how to find happiness and hold onto it. Giamatti is perfect in the lead and Dustin Hoffman provides a great, warm sense of humor as his dad. The director has a good command of this richly emotional story, that even throws in a nice little mystery.

The YouTube clip shows a trailer.

2010-Canada-Italy. 134 min. Color. Produced by Robert Lantos. Directed by Richard J. Lewis. Screenplay: Michael Konyves. Novel: Mordecai Richler. Cast: Paul Giamatti (Barney Panofsky), Dustin Hoffman (Israel Panofsky), Rosamund Pike (Miriam Grant), Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre, Bruce Greenwood.

Trivia: Hoffman’s son Jake plays his grandson. The following Canadian directors show up in cameos: Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand and Ted Kotcheff.

Golden Globe: Best Actor (Giamatti).

Quote: “Oh Barney, you really do wear your heart on your sleeve. Now put it away, it’s disgusting to look at.” (Lefevre to Giamatti)