Barney's Version

I liked this film much more than a few reviewers whose columns I read did. We all agree that the performances are stellar - especially Paul Giamatti in the title role (I can't imagine anyone else playing it) and Rosamund Pike as his third wife Miriam, with whom he falls in love at his second wedding. I didn't recognize her as having been Helen in the wonderful film An Education from 2009 or the second Bond girl to Halle Berry in Die Another Day from 2002. Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver and others were also very effective. The film is based on Mordechai Richler's last novel, and the character of Barney resembles what I know of this well-known Canadian author, icon and curmudgeon who died in 2001. Beyond the great performances, I found the film to be very sweet, quite funny in spots, and an interesting story that held my attention as to the various characters and their lives. I had no trouble with the chronology of going back and forth between Barney's young and old life as I guess some reviewers did. Maybe this film is just too Canadian for some!