REVIEW: Barney's Version (2)

AN ALMOST LIKABLE GUY

It's difficult to imagine Paul Giamatti's Barney Panofsky as endearing. He's obnoxious and anal at the best of times, ready to tear people to shreds and throwing his weight around. Not particularly attractive either. Yet, as Richard J. Lewis' film based on a book by Mordecai Richler progresses, you sort of start liking this guy, and, incredible as it seems, even feel sorry for him in the end. But more than Barney, you like his crazy father (Dustin Hoffman, who generally is impossible not to like, even when he's trying too hard) and his best buddy Boogie (Scot Speedman) who's an alcoholic unsuccessful writer and utterly charming at all times.

But it's actually flabby, often tiresome, always caustic Barney who lands all the beauties and even makes good money producing bad television soaps through his company, aptly christened, 'Totally Unnecessary Productions'. This capacity to be self-ironic actually forms the core of Barney's enigma. And perhaps explains why three gorgeous women fall for him within the space of the film. The first is half-crazed Clara (Rachelle Lefevre) who he meets and marries in Rome, before she commits suicide. Barney then moves to Montreal where he quickly marries a Jewish heiress (Minnie Driver, hilarious) and falls in love with another woman, Miriam (Rosamund Pike) at his own wedding! Apart from which, he and his ex-cop dad unleash such mayhem at the proper Jewish gathering that you worry for the future of this alliance straightway.

And before long, the heiress relieves Barney of his agony and he's free to marry a third time, and this one's for keeps, he tells his father. His obsession with Miriam is understandable -- she's beautiful, intelligent and totally adorable. What's entirely inexplicable is why this fetching woman falls for Barney and sticks with him for over two decades, even when he's possessive about her and consistently offensive with her friends. All she expects of him, it seems, is fidelity. And despite his past reputation, Barney is so besotted with Miriam, it isn't hard to achieve.

There's also an unfinished murder investigation about Boogie's mysterious death which casts the needle of suspicion on Barney. Meanwhile, life goes on, kids grow up, the long-running bad soap continues relentlessly, and miraculously, Miriam is still married to Barney. But as is usually the case, one wrong move is all it takes for the pack of cards to collapse.

Barney's Version achieves the difficult task of exploring one individual's complex life with utter seriousness, while being irreverent towards itself at most times. Littered with sparkling wit and defined by intuitive humanity, it's a delightful little gem, gifted with some great acting, particularly from Giamatti.