When you tell your version of your life story, most people would tend to depict themselves in the best light, but even Barney’s Version would have trouble showing its titular character in the best light. For one, the story of his third marriage starts on his second wedding night, and the way the second one ends leads to a preventable fallout with his best friend. But while Barney isn’t exactly the best person you’d like to meet, Paul Giamatti’s sympathetic performance and the way Barney remains honest with himself and his desires all throughout life makes the title character easy to root for, even with all his blunt ways. Barney’s Version does take plenty of familiar tropes, sometimes stereotypical, but it handles this life drama with subtle comedy, excellent performances, and an understanding of how lonely life can be and how we deal with it.

The performances.