Barney's Version

Barney’s Version

I was invited to join a group of friends for a coffee after the yoga class. I hope I wasn’t rude. I quickly declined because I was heading for the first showing on the first day of this most anticipated film. It was meant to open the Toronto Film Festival but this year the festival opened on a Jewish holiday. There was no way this film, with so much Jewish content, could be the opener. Instead the film went to the Venice Film Festival. It has received a great deal of publicity. Robert Lantos produced this noteworthy film .It is very well done and will certainly get a few nods for awards this season.

I love the writings of Mordecai Richler and eagerly anticipated this film based on his last novel.

Paul Giamatti is an interesting choice to play Barney. At times I was troubled with his paunchy look, bulging eyes and lack of hair. He is certainly not the matinee idol look. That is what makes him even more interesting. He plays the role of a man who was married three times. He always had an eye for the women. He constantly drank and always had a cigar in his mouth. Yet, when he spoke his voice was so gentle and he became almost loveable.

He was a true character. The film shows us some of his early life and takes us on a journey until his demise. His father is played by Dustin Hoffman. Barney and his father had such a loving relationship and seemed to truly understand each other.

Barney ran a company called Totally Unecessary Productions.

His family life was often very funny and at times really sad. His first wife committed suicide and you couldn’t help but be relieved that she was out of the picture. She totally used him.

He marries a rich Jewish girl for the second round. It was worth the price of admission to see the wedding scene. He constantly has a cigar in his mouth. He drinks too much and keeps running to catch the latest score of the games being played. The ink isn’t dry on the marriage certificate when he meets Miriam who becomes the love of his life. He eventually marries her and for many years does have a happy relationship.

We see the marriage begin to deteriorate. Miriam wants to go back to work as an announcer. Her boss is interested in her. The marriage breaks up but Barney keeps pining away for her. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when he phones up Miriam’s new lover at 3:00 a.m. He asks him if he wants the nude photos of Miriam so he will know what she used to look like. He is so overcome with jealousy and can’t cope without her.

As his health begins to deteriorate Miriam does come to visit him. It is such a sweet sensitive meeting.

There is a sub plot about the death of one of Barney’s old friends. A police detective keeps appearing on the scene. He seems determined to ‘finger’ Barney as possibly being responsible. I felt that this part of the story was not developed and was almost irritating when little segments were presented. I either needed more information about it or wished it hadn’t been presented.

Barney could be irritating, rude and obnoxious. He also was a loving person with a lot of charm. That is what makes the story so interesting.

Best of all were the songs sung by Leonard Cohen. This is a delightful film filled with every emotion. It is a great story about a fascinating character.