The Barber (2001)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Michael Bafaro

Writers:

Michael Bafaro (written by) &
Warren Low (written by)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Next?

Plot:

A weary town faces a long, dark winter. |

Plot Keywords:

Winter | Psychopath | Alcohol | Cigarette Smoking | Redhead

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Dexter Miles
Jeremy Ratchford	...	Sheriff Corgan
Garwin Sanford	...	Agent Crawley
Brenda James	...	Sally
Paul Jarrett	...	Everett
Erin Wright	...	Jewels
Philip Granger	...	Levi
C. Ernst Harth	...	Buffalo
John B. Destry	...	Cecil (as John Destry)
David Abbott	...	Halstrom
Arnie Walters	...	Paddy
Ralph J. Alderman	...	Farley (as Ralph Alderman)
Vince Murdocco	...	Agent Rayner
Gary Hetherington	...	Jim
Michael Kopsa	...	Father Stiffler

Also Known As:

Le barbier (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Prophecy Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: A person who is facing the camera is shot from behind. We see the bloody wound explode from his chest and through his coat. Later the body is lying face up on the autopsy table, and there is no wound in the chest.

Quotes:

Paddy: Shot, choked, there's no difference...
Dexter Miles: Oh, there is, if you love someone.

Soundtrack:

Believe Me, I Know

Lynch Influences

Everyone looks for the perfect film and thinks if they do not find it there is nothing worth while. That is why I really enjoy...if not love this film! I need not say anything about Malcolm since his acting and career speaks for itself, but also consider that the films he chooses are not necessarily main stream, but possess some merit(considering his 147 IMDb acting entries).

This film made me think of an Insomnia (foreign or domestic) meets David Lynch (Twin Peaks of course), or the other way around depending on which influenced you first. I can't but wonder if all those things criticized about this film were intentional. The quirky nature of each character, for example, due to effects of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder - http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm), provide the canvas for the film to unfold onto.

This is the one of few reviews I have written, even though I personally own over 1500 films (not that it really means anything or that I have seen them all)! I just felt that someone needed to speak up for the misunderstood. If you spent the time to actually read my comments I thank you for your time, whether you enjoy this film or not. If you have not seen the film, I would like to say it would be worth your while, but this is the kind of film you have to experience for yourself and see how it suits you.