5/10
Apparently this is based on a famous novel by Mordechai Richler about a guy called Barney, and his life and loves over 30 years in Montreal. In the film version, Paul Giamatti plays Barney, with Dustin Hoffman as his dad, and Rosamund Pike as his (third) wife. It's an OK film, but nothing to make you fork out hard earned cash for.
Looking at the description of the novel, I can see that the film makers have made various changes, but have lost something in the process. There are characters in the book who don't appear in the film and vice versa. Details are omitted or changed, and most importantly, the onset of Alzheimer's occurs as an external illness which does not affect the reliability of Barney's account, whereas in the book, his memory lapses are integrated into his version of his life.
The film works mainly because of the strength of the performances. Giamatti is terrific in the leading role, full of energy, neurosis, aggression and chutzpah. Hoffman is at his most endearing as his dad, and Rosamund Pike builds on her growing reputation as a very fine actress, an unusual achievement for someone who has been a Bond Girl.
It's tricky to adapt a long sprawling novel which covers decades of a character's life, but then if you tackle this kind of source material, then that's the challenge you have to meet. It's only partially successful here, and that's not really enough.
