Dann in reel life: 'Barney's Version' is erosion of a man

The moderately engaging “Barney's Version” works almost like an old-fashioned temperance movie warning against the evils of sinful drink. Not only does the boozer main character, a successful TV producer named Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti in excellent form) lose his marriage and friends because of alcoholic hazes, he comes down with early Alzheimers' symptoms suggesting the wrath of God at work for his overindulgence.

Giamatti's selfish main character doesn't binge-drink or become rip-roaring drunk. It's more subtle. Barney makes key decisions while under 70-proof influences, and they ultimately erode the stability of his relationships.

“Barney's Version” opens with the title character in middle age. Through a series of flashbacks, Barney goes through three wives.

First, the free-spirited Clara (Rachelle Lefevre) who commits suicide in Rome. Second, the Jewish princess “Second Mrs. P” (Minnie Driver) who can't shut up.

Third, the beautiful Miriam (Rosamund Pike), whom Barney hits on only minutes after taking his vows with the Second Mrs. P, telegraphing the early demise of marriage No. 2.

The story gains a little bit of mystery when a cop (Mark Addy) is sure that Barney shot and killed his best friend Boogie (Scott Speedman), but can't prove it. Barney was in an alcoholic fog and can't remember when Boogie mysteriously vanished off the edge of a boat dock.

There's not much of a plot in this truncated adaptation of Mordecai Richler's 1997 satirical novel, although the movie is directed with a compassionate spirit by Northwestern University grad Richard J. Lewis.

Giamatti, who picked up a Golden Globe Award Sunday for his portrait of Barney, generates more empathy than his character deserves. Giamatti renders Barney's insecurities, foibles and bad judgments into quasi-endearing faults.

His ability to nimbly leap from self-centered malcontent to empathetic puppy dog is the foundation of a thoroughly watchable performance, especially when teamed with Dustin Hoffman as Barney's socially crass but loving police officer father — and also with Hoffman's own son Jake Hoffman, who plays Barney's son Michael.

“Barney's Version” opens at the Century Centre in Chicago and the Evanston CineArts 6. Rated R for sexual situations, language. 132 minutes. ★ ★ ★

A Hirt-ful mistake

Hi, Dann: Loved your review of “The Green Hornet,” but my husband caught a mistake. It drove him crazy all last night! The theme song from “The Green Hornet” TV show was not done by Herb Alpert. It was done by Al Hirt. The song was really called “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by a classical composer. For the true Green Hornet fans, we just had to let you know. — Maureen and Ira Muise

Maureen and Ira: You are both right about Al Hirt. I meant to change the name before posting and printing. I made the correction in my Twitter and Facebook accounts and dailyherald.com. But I was too late to fix it for the newspaper. Thanks for your vigilance. We should give Al all the credit he deserves, because, man, that guy's lips must have “hirt” for days after playing that speedy theme. — Dann

PS: “Flight of the Bumblebee” was composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” around 1899. Edward Williams “Billy” May created that incredible adaptation for Hirt, heard on the silver screen in 2003 during Quentin Tarantino's “Kill Bill Vol. 1.”

Rogen's laugh torture?

Dann, I think everyone's review on “The Green Hornet” is correct. I have no intention in going to see a stoner play a crime fighter in this film. I think that Seth Rogen has some untapped government potential. If you lock up some criminals or terrorists and play an endless loop of Seth's stoner laugh, you could probably get rid of waterboarding. — Thomas Egan

Tom: And yet “The Green Hornet” came in first at the box office last weekend with an estimated $40 million, twice that of Ron Howard's erratic, Chicago-made dramedy titled “The Dilemma.” — Dann

Rogen no Batman!Hi, Dann: I knew right from the start that Seth Rogen would besmirch the great nephew of John Reid, the Lone Ranger. Supporters have tried to link his acting chops and rep to Michael Keaton being cast as the first Batman. However, Keaton had range beyond his not-quite-yet typecast smart-aleck comedy. Rogen is a one-dimensional high-school/college-boy shlub best relegated to the fan base of Conan O'Brien and #8220;Porky's#8221;/#8220;Revenge of the Nerds#8221; cult-film followers.From the start, Rogen was completely wrong for the part and therefore unbelievable as the character. That's too bad. This erstwhile franchise spent a greater part of the last decade in development purgatory. Based on how this property was squandered #8212; forget any franchise #8212; it should have remained there, unless Sony opts to reboot it with one of the #8220;Twilight#8221; himbos, once it bleeds Spider-Man 2.0 dry. #8212; Rick Barlow Dear Rick: Ah, I see you know your superhero family tree. #8220;Green Hornet#8221; creator George W. Trendle did indeed intend his other creation, #8220;The Lone Ranger,#8221; to be a relative of newspaper publisher Britt Reid. To my knowledge, this fact was never brought out in the 1966 TV series or Rogen's new film. #8212; Dann The Duke vs. the DudeDear Dann: My name is Brian E. Skol and I live in beautiful downtown Bensenville. The movie world is now calling #8220;True Grit#8221; the most successful western since the '90s. For the sake of the genre, I hope it does mean a comeback. And it does prove that a well-made movie can sell. I guess I was hoping you might comment on the different styles of acting between John Wayne and Jeff Bridges. Spin-cocking the Winchester is still hard to beat. #8212; BrianDear Brian: In two sentences:1) The Duke was a bona fide movie star who bent characters and dialogue to suit his image and abilities.2) Bridges is a bona fide motion picture actor who bends himself to suit the character and dialogue in the screenplay. I hope this answers your question. #8212; DannWoodstock's film fest!The Ninth International Woodstock Film Festival starts today and runs through Tuesday at the Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St., Woodstock. Argentina's popular #8220;Secret in Their Eyes#8221; leads a roster of films, including Germany's #8220;White Ribbon,#8221; France's #8220;A Prophet,#8221; Peru's #8220;Milk of Sorrow#8221; and Israel's #8220;Ajami.#8221; Tickets cost $7.50 per film, or $30 for all five movies. Go to classiccinemas.com for a schedule.#8216;A Film Unfinished'The After Hours Film Society presents #8220;A Film Unfinished,#8221; a doc about a mysterious, never-completed Nazi propaganda movie. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Tivoli Theater, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. General admission is $9 ($5 for members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com or call (630) 968-0219.#8226; Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire's column runs Fridays in Time out! 21381426Barney (Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti) becomes a successful producer of bad TV despite his excessive alcohol consumption in "Barney's Version."