Barney's Version

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Barney's Version

R

2011

2h 12m

Drama

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Toward the end of his life, Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) looks back on his triumphs and tragedies, beginning with an ill-fated relationship with Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), whom he marries when she becomes pregnant. When that falls apart, he moves back home to Montreal and gets married twice more, finally finding contentment with Miriam (Rosamund Pike), his third wife. Through it all, Barney is sustained by his work in television, raising children and the advice of his father (Dustin Hoffman).

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Critics Consensus

With a magnificent performance by Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version offers much comedy and insight to the complexities of modern romance.

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Leonard Maltin

leonardmaltin.com

Jun 29, 2011

Paul Giamatti is one of those actors whose presence in a movie generally validates it, and Barney's Version is no exception. He manages to make a central character with few-if any-admirable traits not only bearable but downright compelling. And...

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Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

Mar 31, 2011

3/5

The ever-impressive Paul Giamatti (American Splendour, John Adams) shines in this rambling Canadian character study.

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Mar 23, 2011

3/5

If Giamatti's performance is rigorously unsentimental, director Richard Lewis and writer Michael Konyves (adapting Morechai Richler's novel) succumb, a little too often, to slow-moving warmth and wryness.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Jan 31, 2021

3.5/5

Gives Paul Giamatti his most memorable part since Sideways

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Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

Jul 13, 2020

C+

The film never coalesces, and despite the positive bits, the story is simply too long, too rambling, and too obvious to be completely successful.

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Nov 6, 2019

1.8/5

If I was Barney, I would want to forget this movie too.

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Matheus F

@matheusf_neto Sep 1, 2025

Paul Giamatti is remarkable. I'm very happy that he won a Golden Globe for this performance.

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iDream Z

@iDream Feb 19, 2025

One of Giamatti's best, it's the story of a flawed man who falls desperately in love but slips and loses her after a long and happy marriage only to find her again later in life when he's coming face to face with dementia. A great story about love, infidelity, friendship, jealousy and forgiveness. Dustin Hoffman also does a great job as a father who is a no nonsense ex cop. Bitter sweet with just the right touch of comedy.

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bao s

@RT77741678 Jan 14, 2023

After wading through an overwrought story heavy on melodramatic characterizations precariously held together by the acting of one man, I find myself at a ridiculous ending. It wasn't that great from the get go, but the ending made it absolutely terrible!

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isla s

@RT89656869 Sep 4, 2022

This is an amusing film about a bit of a sleazeball character - his highs and (moreso) lows through the previous few decades. Its somewhat re-assuring to see him get his comeuppance in different ways. The comedy is visual, mostly slapstick style. Its an entertaining and decent enough sort of a watch - not exactly brilliant but certainly not bad or awful. I'd say this is worth a watch, although I'm not sure I'd specifically recommend going far out of your way to see it, its ok.

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sue b

@RT96121712 Apr 1, 2022

Boring and over long, this movie really failed for me because I just could not like the central character. He has a sense of entitlement and little gratitude for the amazing women that come into his life. The film essentially reeks of misogyny. Pointless milestones in the film such as the death of his friend the police investigation and the final illness really didn't generate any emotions or points to the film plot comma I was just wishing for him and it to end. Really one of those films we think why the hell did I just waste 2 hours watching it

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robert b

@RT70544204 Dec 31, 2021

A classic. One of my top five favorite movies of all time. Giamatti at his best.

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Richard J. Lewis

Director

Paul Giamatti

Barney

Rosamund Pike

Miriam

Minnie Driver

2nd Mrs. P

Rachelle Lefevre

Clara

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Synopsis

Toward the end of his life, Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) looks back on his triumphs and tragedies, beginning with an ill-fated relationship with Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), whom he marries when she becomes pregnant. When that falls apart, he moves back home to Montreal and gets married twice more, finally finding contentment with Miriam (Rosamund Pike), his third wife. Through it all, Barney is sustained by his work in television, raising children and the advice of his father (Dustin Hoffman).

Director: Richard J. Lewis
Producer: Robert Lantos
Screenwriter: Michael Konyves
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Lyla Films, Fandango, Serendipity Point Films, Harold Greenberg Fund
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 14, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.5M
Runtime: 2h 12m

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