it's first time for me to write anything about a movie,i mean in IMDb,and i didn't expect to happen for a film with 7.3 point :) this movie claims more thumbs up than this and i want to do something to help the movie to increase auditions. i don't know why ! this 2 hours and 14 minute film makes u think twice,about any step u made and will make... it is a novel by frames and images. it was forgotten in the film basket of mine,but after watch,rise and comes above the list of favourites . a movie full of warmth,love,touching...and finally i must say this movie is a acting heaven. Giamati and Pike make u laugh and cry,sometimes same time.so strange to see the 7.3 point..for this masterpiece.

One of the main thing that attracts me towards any film is the cast & story i have seen plenty of autobiographical films and also films like this one Barney's Version is based on a novel but it is the finest film Paul Giamatti ever done.The Cast:when i saw the big names like Rosamund Pike & Minnie Driver listed i was immediately ready to watch as i am a big fan but main highlight is the actor Paul Giamatti he never impressed me he usually does bad moves and mostly comedy but here he goes absolute nuts specially in the climax giving his best performance in extremely serious manner.The dialogs are nicely written there are some comedy moments as the script demanded those i think its best to say its a very over the top silly film but with a great narrative.The only thing bothers is the editing section the runtime could have been trimmed easily many unnecessary scenes look like outtakes with no relation or connection to characters & story in anyway.The Plot:Barney Panofsky is a TV producer he is alcoholic & a heavy smoker he is getting old he looks back at his life all those mistakes & crazy things he has done plus the relationship with all of his 3 wives,kids & his friends.This is a film not for everyone people will complain about it for being boring i handled it because it was something i was looking for once again i would like to mention Minnie Driver here she is excellent & looks even more beautiful then ever i became a fan of her when i saw her in Goldeneye 1995.If you wonder why this film is called barney's version let me clear this up a bit it should have been called barney's vision because of his views on life & how he looks at it but actually its about barney & his versions too the same guy with many different personalities basically the character is confused so when i searched a bit about author Mordecai Richler he wrote the novel of the same name the novel has more depth then the film but this is a faithful adaptation.Overall Barney;s Version 2010 is a film you can watch if you like heavy dialog oriented films this was not released in theaters across Pakistan don;t know why but its definitely worth grabbing it on the DVD Disc my rating is 5/10.Recommended

The main character was utterly loathsome. I didn't want to spend an hour watching him, let alone an overly-long 2 1/4 hours. There were no sympathetic characters; I hated the Paul Giamatti (an actor I hate in everything he does) character and hated all of the others for not hating him.Dustin Hoffman redeemed this movie, his moments in it were great. But there was absolutely nothing else.The movie was largely a plot less character study of an obnoxious character. The only real plot element was the death of the friend, Boogie. I'm not going to give away the way this element of plot is resolved, but I didn't get the point at all when I saw the movie, only when I googled it did I realize that the one scene with the airplane was resolving this plot element. Maybe if I'd read the novel it would have been more clear.Why are we supposed to love hateful destructive characters? I don't, and never have.

Barney's version is and incredible piece of acting by Paul Giamatti. Mr. Giamatti just keeps going and going in his roles in all different types of films. He manages to pull off every character that he portrays with certain dignified quality few actors possess. He is able to transcend the role of the character in the film and bring it to life like few actors of this time or even few actors that have come before him. Mr. Giamatti is a talent who by most standards, flies under the radar. Barney's Version is a movie about the life of a character named Barney Panofsky. In the film Barney is able to live his life without inhibition or playing by the standard rules of society. Barney is able to be his own man. In the film. Paul Giamatti is co-starred with Scott Speedman, who plays Barney's best friend "Boogie." The film also features Minnie Driver as Barney's second wife, a relationship that does not last long, but is entertaining non-the-less. Barney meets and falls in love with the character Miriam Grant played by Rosamund Pike and she is just fabulous in this role. I have never seen her in a feature role before, but she is masterful in her talent and acting ability playing the true love of Barney's life. In becoming Barney's true-love and wife is dynamic in her portrayal of a woman who is true to her beliefs and true to her word. Barney's Version is a film worth watching for any film buff who admires character driven movies. I should also mention Barney's father is played by the great Dustin Hoffman, and he adds just the right spice and flavor to the film. His portrayal of an old retired Jewish police officer of the Montreal Police force is rather quietly humorous. As a viewer of the film we ultimately learn to like Barney with all his many character flaws and quirky habits. But all his quirky habits and flaws make Barney the man that he is. Barney is not ashamed or has any embarrassment of even his most appalling character flaws, in fact, he embraces his flaws, they make him the man that he is. And the man that Barney is, we find truly lovable. The movie is genuinely funny, in a dry-wit sorta way. And unlike many films made today. It is actually very, very entertaining. If you are lucky enough to find it Cinemax or Showtime or maybe even Starz, possibly a copy in the bargain bin at Walmart, buy it. Watch it. Barney's Version is a movie you will watch over and over again for the sheer entertainment value. The film puts a smile on your face as you watch the characters interact from scene to scene. Barney falls victim to one of his character flaws that doesn't appear in the film till late. He loves his wife so deeply and genuinely, and how can love be a flaw in his character? It comes to a point in their twenty-five year marriage that Miriam, his wife, wants a little space and goes to visit her son in New York City, leaving Barney at home alone in Montreal. He finds jealousy hidden behind his love. The jealousy that is hidden behind his love for beautiful wife Mirium ultimately becomes one of his biggest and unexpected short-comings in his character. Which, as a the audience we find sad and unfortunate. Still, we love Barney and all his character flaws as they make him the man that we learn to love and admire through-out the entire film. A tip of the cap, to Mr. Giamatti again, for breathing life into a script that many other actors would have left flat on the page. Enjoy an evening with your big-screen and watch Barney's Version, a film you won't soon forget.