MovieFanfare:
Remember The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz? If you fondly recall the 1974 comedy-drama starring Richard Dreyfuss (now unavailable on home video, unfortunately!), you'll be interested in Irv's take on Barney's Version, also based on a book by Canadian author Mordecai Richler. With versatile character actor Paul Giamatti playing the leading role, with support from Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, and Rosamund Pike, is this art-house release destined to find an appreciative audience?
Player Affinity writes: While it might not be the most polished film, there’s no denying Barney’s Version is a captivating piece of filmmaking. It never loses sight of just whose story this is, thanks primarily to a sensational leading performance by Paul Giamatti.
Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti – Sideways) is a heavy-drinking television producer who has led an event-filled life. He lived through two separate marriages before finding true love on his wedding day. Sadly for wife number 2, it wasn’t her. Miriam Grant (Rosamund Pike – Die Another Day) was Barney’s soul mate and the two went on to get married and have a happy family. But today, Barney is alone and on a downward spiral so he takes stock of his extraordinary adventures and looks back at the events that brought him to where he is now.
Shakefire writes, "Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) is your normal everyday Jewish Television producer. He has a nice apartment, enjoys drinking his whiskey while smoking a cigar and will stop anything to catch the score on the recent hockey game. So what sets this man apart from every other alcoholic hockey fanatic?"
I still need to watch this one on my quest to watch all of this year's Oscar-nominated films before Oscar night. Only have like 7 left to go and this is one. Sucks though because I haven't found access to it anywhere yet.