First, he got married. Then, he got married again. Then, he met the love of his life. The warm, wise, and witty story of Barney Panofsky, a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. A candid confessional, told from Barney's point of view, the film spans four decades and two continents, taking us through the different 'acts' of his unusual history. There's his first wife, Clara, a flame-haired, flagrantly unfaithful free sprit with whom Barney briefly lives <i>la vie de Boheme</i> in Rome. The "Second Mrs. P."' is a wealthy Jewish princess who shops and talks incessantly, barely noticing that Barney is'nt listening. And it is at their lavish wedding that Barney meets, and starts pursuing, Miriam, who will be his third wife, the mother of his two children, and his true love.
With his father, Izzy as his sidekick, Barney takes us through the many highs, and a few lows, of his long and colourful life. Not only does Barney turn out to be a true romantic, he's also capable of all kinds of sneaky acts of gallantry, generosity, and goodness when we and he least expect it. His is a gloriously full life, played out on a grand scale. And, at its center, stands an unlikely hero: The unforgettable Barney Panofsky.
Cast
Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre, Scott Speedman, Bruce Greenwood, Mark Addy, Saul Rubinek, Dustin Hoffman
Directed by
Richard J. Lewis
Music
Pasquale Catalano
Screenplay
Michael Konyves