Serendipity Point Films, Fandango, Harold Greenberg Fund, The
Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman, Dustin Hoffman, Jake Hoffman, Mark Addy, Saul Rubinek, Rachelle Lefevre, Bruce Greenwood
Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), a Jewish Canadian television producer, reflects in flashbacks on three strange decades and three wives. Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), a free-spirited proponent of free love was the first. “Mrs. P” (Minnie Driver), a self-centered princess who cares for things and is very demanding was the second. Miriam (Rosamund Pike), the right woman who comes along at the wrong time. Barney led an interesting life, and as he is entering his golden years, he it taking time to look back at the events in his life.
I found this to be a very interesting look at the life and loves of one man. There are many parts that are quite humorous, some downright funny. In his younger years Barney was a carefree fellow. As time passes, he makes a few very bad decisions. Barney’s job as a producer of very mundane and useless television program who drinks too much, smokes too much, and is an extreme hockey fan, lives an ironic life. With all his excesses, he’s still a decent guy and when he meets the love of his life at the wrong time, he hangs in there trying to be close to her regardless of the consequences. The irony in the end of his life is not lost either as slowly he loses everything that was important to him. Mostly a sad and frustrating life, Barney still tries to make the best of everything that gets thrown at him.
This film also makes use of one of the longest standing urban legends which results in a moment that is kind of hard to follow. You’ll know what I mean when you see it, and if you keep “snopes.com” in mind you’ll get what finally happened to Barney’s best fried.
I enjoyed this film, and found it surprising. It’s all about Barney, and basically someone wrote a book about his life and how he got away with murder. The whole film is “Barney’s version” of what happened to rebut the book. If you’re a fan of strong character development stories, this is a good one, and although a bit sad, especially in the end, it’s got it’s funny moments and is a very entertaining life.
EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog
