BARNEY'S VERSION
Year: 2010
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Universal Pictures International (UK)
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre, Scott Speedman, Bruce Greenwood, Macha Grenon, Jake Hoffman, Anna Hopkins, Thomas Trabacchi, Cle Bennett, Harvey Atkin, Massimo Wertmuller, Howard Jerome, Linda Sorensen, Paul Gross, David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand, Atom Egoyan, Ted Kotcheff
Director: Richard J Lewis
Countries: Canada / Italy
USA: 132 mins
UK: 134 mins
USA Rated: R for language and some sexual content
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and infrequent strong sex
USA Release Date: 14 January 2011 (Limited Release - New York and Los Angeles)
UK Release Date: 28 January 2011
Synopsis
"First he got married. The he got married again. Then he met the love of his life."
Based on Mordecai Richler's award winning novel â€" his last and, arguably, best â€" BARNEY'S VERSION is the warm, wise and witty story of the politically incorrect life of Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), who meets the love of his life (Rosamund Pike) at his wedding - and she is not the bride. A candid confessional, told from Barney’s point of view, the film spans three decades and two continents, taking us through the different “acts” of his unusual history.
There is his first wife, Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), a flame-haired, flagrantly unfaithful free sprit with whom Barney briefly lives la vie de Boheme in Rome. The “Second Mrs P,” (Minnie Driver), is a wealthy Jewish Princess who shops and talks incessantly, barely noticing that Barney is not listening. And it is at their lavish wedding that Barney meets, and starts pursuing, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), his third wife, the mother of his two children, and his true love.
With his father, Izzy (Dustin Hoffman) as his sidekick, Barney takes us through the many highs, and a few too many lows, of his long and colourful life. Not only does Barney turn out to be a true romantic, he is also capable of all kinds of sneaky acts of gallantry, generosity, and goodness when we â€" and he â€" least expect it. His is a gloriously full life, played out on a grand scale. And, at its centre stands an unlikely hero â€" the unforgettable Barney Panofsky.