Barney's VersionMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 67 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
17 Iffy for 17+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 88
    New Orleans Times-Picayune | Mike Scott

    That character flaw makes for some great shock-fueled laughs in Lewis' film -- Giamatti does full-on comic rage as well as anyone. Read full review

  • 88
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Giamatti's performance is one of those achievements. He is making a career of playing unremarkable but memorable men. Read full review

  • 83
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Paul Giamatti, dialing down his trembly-voiced neurotic energy to good effect, gives a holy hell of a performance as Barney Panofsky. Read full review

  • 80
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    By the time Barney gets one final, heartbreaking chance to screw things up, this rich, satisfying film has you hooked. Read full review

  • 75
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Carrie Rickey

    That rumpled grumpus Paul Giamatti seizes the title role in Barney's Version, summoning irresistibility and irritability to create a character as endearing as he is galling. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Giamatti and Pike are backed by a strong cast, including Minnie Driver, lots of fun as Barney's Jewish princess second wife. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Paul Giamatti brings just the right blend of irascible charm and caustic intelligence to the role of Barney. Read full review

  • 70
    Movieline | Stephanie Zacharek

    Barney's Version is too much of a sprawl to have much of a lasting emotional effect. Read full review

  • 63
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Rosamund Pike is perfection as Barney's true love, and Dustin Hoffman makes magic as Barney's randy dad. It's acting heaven. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    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. Read full review

View more reviews for Barney's Version on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 17+ Mature dramedy is well acted but may not interest teens.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this Paul Giamatti dramedy based on the novel by Mordecai Richler is heavy on strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t") and sexual innuendo and situations (including a scene of a topless woman). There's also some violence (a gun is brandished, and there's lots of arguing), as well as almost constant drinking and smoking, and one character is an addict. Teens may not be sucked in by the story of a middle-aged ne'er-do-well anyway.
  • Families can talk about whether Barney is a strong or likeable character. What does he do to earn viewers' interest or admiration? What does he do wrong throughout his life? Does he learn anything? Do his mistakes make him more or less appealing?
  • Why do you think Barney and all his friends drink so much? What consequences does it have in their movie lives? What consequences might it have in real life?
  • Barney meets many women during his life. How does he know that Miriam is the one that he's truly in love with? What does he do to deserve her love?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Ultimately, not much is learned or accomplished here. Characters behave terribly -- but also warmly from time to time; it's messy, but so is life.
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: Barney behaves badly and/or makes mistakes throughout the film, and he never seems to learn from any of them, although he does generally pay a price for his behavior. He's successful in business and also acts bravely and lovingly from time to time, but overall, his general character could be summed up as someone you don't want your kids to be like.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: Plenty of shouting and arguing. A gun is pulled in one scene, though the resulting violence occurs off-screen, with no blood shown.
  • sex false4 Sexy stuff: Viewers see two sex acts in progress and one about to occur, but true nudity is limited to one scene with a topless woman and some nude paintings. Frequent sex talk and sexual innuendo. The main character is married to three women during the course of the movie and is said to have had sex with all of them, as well as with a fourth woman.
  • language false4 Language: Strong, frequent swearing includes "f--k," "s--t," "c--ksucker," "prick," "son of a bitch," "t-ts," "schtupping," "schmuck," "p---y," "vagina," "a--hole," "hell," and "Jesus Christ" (used as an exclamation).
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false4 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters drink almost constantly, often to the point of drunkenness. The hero goes to a bar to watch hockey and get drunk; he also drinks in restaurants and at home. He also smokes cigars almost constantly. A secondary character is shown to be an addict, and drugs such as "horse" (heroin), opium, and hash are mentioned.
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Dave White

2.5

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

Very much like the dinosaur. But drunk. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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Barney's Version Movie Reviews + Ratings

Fans say

So-so
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