Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
BARNEY'S VERSIONMovie Reviews
Comedy drama based on the novel of the same name, about a hard-living 65 year-old television producer reflecting on the successes and failures of his life. Cast:Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman, Dustin HoffmanDirector:Richard J. LewisRelease Date:December 3, 2010DVD Release:June 28, 2011From:Sony ClassicsRating:RLength:2 hr 12 min
JUNE 28, 2011
Barney's Version, Good (Not Great) Reviews Key Cities
Barney's Version played in key cities to good not great reviews. • Connie Ogle wrote in the Miami Herald, "...wholly belongs to Giamatti, who is asked to deliver a performance that encompasses all the profound and mundane emotions of a man’s existence..." • And Tasha Robinson wrote for the AV Club, "...far too much is missing from this film." More Reviews Below...
Barney's Version Positive Reviews (39 Reviews, reviews below)
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "Paul Giamatti gives a holy hell of a performance... The movie is episodic, with too much Montreal Jewish kitsch... But it's also full of feeling."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 114 words, 01/14/11
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Rosamund Pike is perfection as Barney's true love, and Dustin Hoffman makes magic as Barney's randy dad. It's acting heaven."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 108 words, 01/07/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Giamatti's Barney is not especially smart or talented or good-looking, but he is especially there -- a presence with a great depth of need..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 732 words, 01/20/11
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...a plot involving adultery, divorce, a grab bag of vices and even the possibility of murder; art, sex, religion, hockey.... the film plays more or less like a recitation of that list."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 873 words, 12/03/10
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "There isn't a moment in 'Barney's Version' that doesn't feel like a labor of love.... a version of a life not soon forgotten."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 442 words, 12/03/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a sublime, dark distraction... watching Giamatti use Barney to wrestle with success, failure, friendship, love and increasingly with time is exhilarating."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 862 words, 12/03/10
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "...sour, plotless and witless.... Giamatti is an ideal casting choice, but even this talented actor can't sell a lovable-jerk story that forgot to put in the lovable."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 569 words, 12/03/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Giamatti is more than ready to dive into the craziest excesses of this character. Director Lewis, though, never quite gets a handle on him."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 447 words, 01/21/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Giamatti's Barney is not especially smart or talented or good-looking, but he is especially there -- a presence with a great depth of need..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 732 words, 01/20/11
Ella Taylor, Village Voice: POOR "...it comes as a big letdown that Richard J. Lewis has made such a mushy pudding out of Richler's last novel.... misses every opportunity for raucous picaresque fun..."(See all of Ella Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 01/12/11
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a strong narrative, tilting more toward bittersweet romantic comedy than whodunit... one of the most successful adaptations yet of a Richler novel."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 12/24/10
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...plenty ambitious enough; it's rare to find movies that trace any character over several decades, never mind an Everyman."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 682 words, 12/24/10
Karina Longworth, LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...uneven, but the central relationship drama is super compelling.... never approaches the transcendence of the narratively similar 'Synecdoche, New York.' "(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 11/04/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Simultaneously ambitious and pedestrian, Lewis's approach undermines the entire premise of Richler's book, which depended on Barney's being an unreliable narrator."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 12/16/10
KEY CITIES (14 Reviews)
Dan Kois, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "Yes, it's well acted and frequently touching. But it's the thoughtful, tasteful indie-film version. It's not exactly Barney's version."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 656 words, 01/28/11
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "Director Richard J. Lewis brings out the fine shadings, particularly in the performance of Rosamund Pike..."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 648 words, 02/11/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a messy movie, the odd emotional moment sneaking in around rank melodramatics. And if that sounds a little like life itself, that's kind of the point."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 684 words, 02/18/11
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the biggest shock of recognition comes from looking at Giamatti's deeply flawed Barney and spotting a bit of ourselves gazing back."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 01/28/11
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a smart, well-acted two hours at the art house, full of witty observations and fellow feeling. But, really, it has no business being a movie."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 02/04/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...rambling, time-shifting and not often very funny; it's actually pretty sad. That's not to say the movie's bad -- it's very well-acted and often compelling..."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 435 words, 02/18/11
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "Buoyed by a full-blooded performance by Paul Giamatti... a breezy and charming film in all, well-acted, playful and filled with real joie de vivre."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 186 words, 02/25/11
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...has episodes instead of plot, outbursts instead of wit and alibis instead of growth. But it also has a star we'd be willing to watch in 'Barney's Version 2.0.' "(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 334 words, 02/11/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: GOOD(cg) "...with everything drifting around the film's antagonizing protagonist, Giamatti's performance makes a life not worth living into one worth watching."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 02/17/11
Tom Long, Detroit News: GOOD(cg) "...there in the middle of it all is Giamatti, making Barney a wonderful mess to watch. He may be far from perfect, but he's fun."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 329 words, 02/11/11
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...wholly belongs to Giamatti, who is asked to deliver a performance that encompasses all the profound and mundane emotions of a man's existence."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 566 words, 01/28/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Ella Taylor, Village Voice: POOR "...it comes as a big letdown that Richard J. Lewis has made such a mushy pudding out of Richler's last novel.... misses every opportunity for raucous picaresque fun..."(See all of Ella Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 730 words, 01/12/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The title narrator of Mordecai Richler's novel is a prick and proud of it.... Paul Giamatti almost makes this version of 'Barney' work..."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 156 words, 02/03/11
Karina Longworth, LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...uneven, but the central relationship drama is super compelling.... never approaches the transcendence of the narratively similar 'Synecdoche, New York.' "(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 11/04/10
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: GOOD(cg) "...intriguing, but frustrating.... in spite of Giamatti's riveting performance, and in spite of Richard Lewis' sharp but unhurried direction, far too much is missing from this film."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 459 words, 01/13/11
Nick Schager, Slant: WEAK(cg) "...lengthy but aimless saga generally goes about its funny-serious business without a guiding purpose... an emotionally and intellectually one-dimensional affair."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 12/02/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Simultaneously ambitious and pedestrian, Lewis's approach undermines the entire premise of Richler's book, which depended on Barney's being an unreliable narrator."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 12/16/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT(cg) "Rich, rambling... has the texture of a great novel.... Director Richard J. Lewis ensures that the performances prove colorful without spilling into caricature."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 575 words, 02/16/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...a plot involving adultery, divorce, a grab bag of vices and even the possibility of murder; art, sex, religion, hockey.... the film plays more or less like a recitation of that list."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 873 words, 12/03/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a sublime, dark distraction... watching Giamatti use Barney to wrestle with success, failure, friendship, love and increasingly with time is exhilarating."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 862 words, 12/03/10
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...middle-tier... distinguished by an excellent Paul Giamatti... What it lacks is the sense of purpose and control that signify a work conceived in its natural medium."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 801 words, 09/10/10
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...a highly entertaining and arguably the most satisfying Richler screen adaptation to date.... considerable exuberance, visual flair and, ultimately, grace."(See all of Michael Rechtshaffen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 547 words, 09/10/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a sublime, dark distraction... watching Giamatti use Barney to wrestle with success, failure, friendship, love and increasingly with time is exhilarating."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 862 words, 12/03/10
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD(cg) "A talented cast elevates the warm, wise, often witty tale... represents a typical Jewish morality tale, the kind of which we don't see much anymore..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 11/23/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: MODERATE "...a plot involving adultery, divorce, a grab bag of vices and even the possibility of murder; art, sex, religion, hockey.... the film plays more or less like a recitation of that list."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 873 words, 12/03/10
17.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Barney's Version's reviews are separated by an average 17.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Barney's Version (39 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Barney's Version's reviews cover 64.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 20,484 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 525 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Barney's Version Coverage, Volume & Length (39 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 30 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Barney's Version's reviews on average broke 30 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Barney's Version's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Barney's Version (39 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
