Hat tip to The Playlist for reminding us of this brief trailer for Richard J. Lewis’s comedy “Barney’s Version,” which will premiere in competition at next month’s Venice Film Festival, before moving on to Toronto. (It’s a couple of months old, but for many, the film only hit the radar recently.) There is too little here to draw any firm conclusions, though it does strike me as an unusually chipper American selection for Venice’s big league. I have yet to read the popular source novel — if there’s time, I might cover it in Page to Screen — and Paul Giamatti is an actor to whose charms I remain curiously immune, so I’ll sit out for the moment. Watch the treaser after the jump and see what you think.
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7 responses to “‘Barney’s Version’ teaser”
I like the cast but I don’t see anything here other than a slight comedy. I think Giamatti can carry a movie on his own, but I hope the film is better than the trailer indicates.
I don’t know, that looks kind of awesome.
I liked the trailer… I think Paul Giamatti can be great sometimes (Sideways, Cinderella Man, American Splendor, even The Illusionist), and I’m intrigued by the trio of actresses portraying his loves. Hoffman looks kooky..In a good way, I suppose.
I actually think this looks potentially hilarious. This is the first comedy trailer, other than Due Date, that’s made me actually laugh in the slightest. I think it could potentially be this/next year’s A Serious Man-sorta thang. And I agree about not always loving the Giamatti, but I think I could here. And, ya know, my adoration for Rosamund Pike only helps matters.
Well, the film is technically a Canadian-Italian co-production, so it seems only fitting that it should premiere at both Venice and Toronto.
Richler’s novels are surprisingly popular in Italy, so that may have also influenced the Venitian powers that be.
I’ll try anything with Dustin Hoffman and throw in Rosamund Pike and I pretty much can’t wait. Although, it looks like its got plenty going for it anyway… minus the Woody-Allen-ish title (I know its based on a book).
I read the book and loved it, but I think the movie will be it’s own thing. In the book the character is a lot older and has Alzheimer’s. It made me cry. Barney seems like an old friend that you’re just finding again, and then you’re losing him.
I guess the script is taken from Barney’s earlier life with a more cheerful bent. But with the women in this cast, I think it’ll be a lot of fun.