Terrible movie, great performances

Mark Kermode had a blog recently asking for mentions of the best performances in the worst films.

I couldn't decide whether or not I liked Barney's Version, and then I realised it was because it's a fine mention in this category. Great performances all around, terrible direction and narrative. Giamatti and Hoffman in particular were just fantastic. The film as a whole, however, was a complete mess and spent too little time on its good qualities and far too much time trying to be something it wasn't. For me the most evocative thing about this film was that even though Barney was an entirely unlikable character in my eyes, it still felt like a very touching depiction of youth fading into old age, death, and the regret that comes with this loss. It was brave in that it didn't paint any good side to getting old, and I respected it for that. I credit the film's success in achieving this though entirely to Giamatti. Very few actors could have played a character so inherently dislikable but who also managed to show us a real tragedy regarding the passing of life.

A somewhat promising premise put together into a shambles of a film by Lewis, saved by great performances from the cast & terrific performances by Giamatti and Hoffman.