Barney's Version

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I saw two films tonight that I had the pleasure of only seeing a small clip from their oscar nomination during the ceremony and apart from that knew next to nothing about them. Always a pleasant surprise.

This one was nominated for best make-up but Paul Giamatti also won a golden globe for his efforts. The cast is what makes this film so great for me. Everyone was just so damn good. Minnie Driver surprised me the most, I guess I've only seen her play the love interest or friend in most films, but here she has one of the more memorable and very gratingly funny characters.

The first half of the film is very funny, and I saw it with a good crowd that were really getting into it. The film easily had us invested in the characters to see it through the slightly darker and more dramatic second half. The laughs get you hooked and the drama then gives you something to think about. Good plan.

There's quite a bit going on here. They are telling a life story over a long amount of time (hence the make up, which was great, especially on Rosamund Pike at the end, where you can tell she is older but still looks gorgeous,) and the film feels a little long in places. The non-chronological story telling allows for some mystery and suspense, which of his three wives is he fighting with at the start? Or what really happened to his best friend. But ultimately those are less important next to the grander arc of the title character, who is not always the most likeable guy.

But always likeable to watch. And did I see David Cronenberg playing one of the tv show directors? Hilarious cameo. So if you are in the mood for a bit of a saga, check this one out.