Barney's Version (2010)

The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.

Director:

Richard J. Lewis

Writers:

Mordecai Richler (novel), Michael Konyves (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Jake Hoffman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Giamatti	...	Barney Panofsky
Macha Grenon	...	Solange
Paul Gross	...	Constable O'Malley of the North
Atom Egoyan	...	O'Malley Director #1
Mark Camacho	...	T / U Productions Executive #1
David Pryde	...	T / U Productions Executive #2
Paula Jean Hixson	...	Bartender at Grumpy's
Mark Addy	...	Detective O'Hearne
Scott Speedman	...	Boogie
Marica Pellegrinelli	...	'The Countess'
Thomas Trabacchi	...	Leo
Clé Bennett	...	Cedric
Rachelle Lefevre	...	Clara 'Chambers' Charnofsky
Domenico Minutoli	...	Judge at Rome Wedding
Massimo Wertmüller	...	Rome Doctor (as Massimo Wertmuller)

Storyline

Take a ride through the life and memories of Barney Panofsky, a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life's successes and (numerous) gaffes and failures as the final chapters of his own existence come sharply into focus.

---

Plot Keywords:

watching tv | montreal | memory | ex wife | marriage | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Italy Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 February 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Minha Versão do Amor

Filming Locations:

Austin, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

CAD 77,216 (Canada), 26 December 2010

Opening Weekend USA:

$65,241, 16 January 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,502,560

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,167,284

Company Credits

Production Co:

Serendipity Point Films,Fandango,Lyla Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In development for twelve years.

---

Goofs

On the radio Miriam introduces the song "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" by Dusty Springfield. The recording played is the version by Shelby Lynne which was recorded in 2008.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Blair: Hello?
Barney Panofsky: Blair, I'd like to speak with my wife.
Blair: Oh, Barney, it's 3:00 in the morning.
Barney Panofsky: Put my wife on the phone.
Blair: She's not your wife and I'm not waking her.
Barney Panofsky: All right. Well, then just ask her what she wants me to do with all these nude photos I have of her. Ah, come to think of it, you actually might want them, if only to see what Miriam looked like in her prime.
Blair: [hangs up]

---

Connections

Featured in The Hour: Episode #7.58 (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Sunshine Superman
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Performed by Donovan
Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd. for the territories of United Kingdom and Ireland, Sony Music Entertainment Inc. by arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
Licensed by arrangement with Peer International Corp.

User Reviews

Movie about "life"?

Let's say you are not Canadian. Or Jewish. Then how are you entertained by the movie? Alternatively, how do you explain that Giamatti won the Golden Globe for a COMEDY? To me, the film is overlong, depressing, and devoid of entertainment. The acting is a dissonance. Dustin Hoffman is trying to be lovable Dustin Hoffman and to take over every scene he is in. Minnie Driver is fine but her character supposedly did her master's at McGill and shows nothing of the sort. Actress portraying 3d wife/"love of entire life" does not do any acting, and Giammatti is forced to overact (I actually think he is brilliant in showing the aging of the character through the physical cues, but watching one scene after another of drinking/smoking/doing something idiotic gets tiring after awhile).

I do not join the criticisms along the lines "how did all these women fell for this guy?"--it happens, women like to be pursued and do not necessarily fall for Apollonic beauty or Emily Post table manners. I have not read the book, so can't really comment on faithfulness of the movie, but I do think the title is unfortunate (i.e. something works fine for the way the book is structured but not here).

Thumbs down. Unless you are Jewish Canadian.