In Irish crime drama "Barber" Aiden Gillen (likeable as ever as he channels Richard Gere) is a grizzled ex-police private dick who's hired by Diedre Donnelly to track down her missing granddaughter, which leads him into a relatively simple #metoo related case with classic elements like a dodgy politician, corrupt police (Liam Carney) & a powerful bullying stepfather (David Herlihy). Meanwhile Gillen has his own issues to deal with, as society (Dublin's in particular) changes around him. It's sluggish, tv-standard fare but Gillan and its interesting broad subject matter (from writers Fintan Connolly (who also directed) & Fiona Bergin) make it passable enough.
8 Reviews
Solid Private Eye Flick
cookcolin12 October 2023
A very enjoyable detective film. Nice transitions. A good amount of content in a 90 minute movie. Love, family, tragedy, comedy, social politics, etc. Are touched upon. With some good ol' guilt to boot. Some very nice cinematic moments as we see the night views of Dublin. It has some noir to it. A bit of a whodunit. I cherish B-movies at times due to the wide net of appeal, bulging budgets, and cliché storytelling of AAA titles. On most occasions, this style of movie is more in-line of film as art. Great acting by the lead. The rest are good enough. Story could be more playful to the whodunit element but works. Maybe it is too much content with the multiple storylines for the length but, the length is refreshing. Easy to digest. I rated against the totality of films I have seen and rated from City Lights to The Deer Hunter to Anchorman. Maybe it's a 7. Watch it if you like mystery, detective, thriller, suspense, noir. I would like to see at least a sequel. Perhaps a trilogy. After all, character's with their name in the title often get sequels these days.
A good movie, but not for me
Democrit10 October 2023
The film is a family drama related to crimes of sexual violence. This is a drama in the detective genre, affecting social conflicts and the "MeToo" movement, in particular. The film is for fans of the genre, if you are not interested in theses of this kind, then this is not for you. The characters are interesting, the dialogues are meaningful; the detective story fades into the background of the plot and returns to the finale - a kind of plot elevator. The actors are wonderful, the main character is charming, and a kind father; the daughter is sweet and touching. But cinema is for a fan of the genre, yes, the picture is good, but not for me.
Really bad script
alcof8928 October 2023
Just disappointing from start to finish. It failed to capture, failed to take off. At no point does it ever feel captivating or progressing. The writing is poor and some of the scenes it creates are cringe at best. I'm all for Irish films, but the story in this lasts little in the memory. Though the film was just 90 minutes or so, I honestly felt like it was much longer due to how slowly it moved and how lacking the scenes were of interesting dialogue. Overall, i was hoping for the best, but some of the casting was questionable - but even so, the script content never really had much hope. I would recommend avoiding.
A class act.
tcbliddy2 March 2023
An off kilter private dick story anchored by an authentic and rich central performance and surrounded by a winning support cast. Consistently stylish without affectation, hard working and blessed with an easy sophistication it is staggering to think of its narrative scope and shooting schedule, budget, etc. At times surprisingly densely written the archetypal is suffused with a hurt that convinces and enobles this broken family as they desperately try to not drown in their dysfunction. Connolly at this stage (third feature with the artistic, naturally talented DP Owen McPolin) is now easily one of the most distinctive directors in this country and with each film is growing in maturity yet still retains the sparkle of youth as the image and sound purrs with a primary coloured sensuality. Fiona Bergin, producer of said team, expands her ownership by cowriting this moody meditation on dealing with pain through tenderness, do yourself a favour and catch it on the big screen in April. A class ac.
A noir #metoo movie. Could have been better.
siderite1 November 2023
The film feels like a car collision. There is the noir feeling of it, the grizzled ex-cop private eye, the Irish accent, the dark pool of Dublin streets and police corruption. And then there is the gay cop/husband/father drama, the #metoo story of underage girls masturbated at, the young daughter disabled by a motorcycle accident, the rigorous mask wearing. The thing is, this could have worked, but instead it felt like two discordant notes clashing. And the worst part of it all is the ending, the ridiculous "twist", if one can call it that, of which I don't want to talk for fear of spoiling the chance that you would enjoy it, but which kind of invalidates any good will one might have had toward the victims or any measure of competence you would have assigned to the main character.
I like Aidan Gillen, not just as Littlefinger, because I've seen him in a lot of things, doing good work, so that elevated the film a little. But without his charisma, this is a weird film to be watching, it feels like a whiny generation production where people go to the police for seeing a schlong and bullies are fighting back by slapping people and talking badly about gay rights. It was like a noir policier movie for kindergarten kids. The tension was there, but it just felt totally weird and delusional, like written by a teen on a phone.
Bottom line: a social justice agenda driven film that somehow didn't feel offensive, just endearing, like watching a little dog trying to trick you he didn't bite your shoes. Had potential, it went nowhere.
I like Aidan Gillen, not just as Littlefinger, because I've seen him in a lot of things, doing good work, so that elevated the film a little. But without his charisma, this is a weird film to be watching, it feels like a whiny generation production where people go to the police for seeing a schlong and bullies are fighting back by slapping people and talking badly about gay rights. It was like a noir policier movie for kindergarten kids. The tension was there, but it just felt totally weird and delusional, like written by a teen on a phone.
Bottom line: a social justice agenda driven film that somehow didn't feel offensive, just endearing, like watching a little dog trying to trick you he didn't bite your shoes. Had potential, it went nowhere.
low budget, acting OK, enjoyable
qcmhwcgh1 October 2023
Maybe I'm biased being Irish and a fan of Aidan, but I really enjoyed this. I identified with the characters it had a good story. It was obviously low budget and some of the acting wasn't fluid, but it was very enjoyable and I would watch a sequel if it was made.
This may not be seen as favourably outside of ireland and is not your typical private eye movie. Some nice twists.
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This may not be seen as favourably outside of ireland and is not your typical private eye movie. Some nice twists.
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Postmodernist
last-8192816 October 2023
Barber is a postmodernist Irish thriller. The film's noir elements are evident in its portrayal of Dublin as a dark and foreboding city, where danger lurks around every corner. The city is depicted as a labyrinthine space, where characters are trapped in their own desires and fears. The use of shadows and chiaroscuro lighting creates an atmosphere of unease and tension, adding to the overall sense of dread.
Val Barber is a classic noir protagonist, a flawed hero struggling with his own demons. His search for the missing girl becomes an obsession, as he becomes increasingly entangled in a web of deceit.
The film's plot twists and turns, revealing new layers of deception and intrigue that will leave viewers questioning everyone's motives.
The film's postmodernist elements are evident in its use of intertextuality and self-reflexivity. The film references other works of art, such as literature and cinema, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. The film also comments on its own status as a work of art, drawing attention to its own construction.
The Lacanian psychoanalytic perspective offers an interesting lens through which to view the film. The film's portrayal of Dublin as a labyrinthine space can be seen as a metaphor for the psyche. Val Barber's search for the missing girl can be seen as a quest for self-knowledge, as he confronts his own desires and fears.
Overall, Barber is a complex and thought-provoking film that rewards multiple viewings. Its blend of noir elements and postmodernist techniques creates an atmosphere of unease and tension that will leave viewers on edge. Its exploration of the psyche through a Lacanian lens adds another layer of depth to an already richly layered film.
Val Barber is a classic noir protagonist, a flawed hero struggling with his own demons. His search for the missing girl becomes an obsession, as he becomes increasingly entangled in a web of deceit.
The film's plot twists and turns, revealing new layers of deception and intrigue that will leave viewers questioning everyone's motives.
The film's postmodernist elements are evident in its use of intertextuality and self-reflexivity. The film references other works of art, such as literature and cinema, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. The film also comments on its own status as a work of art, drawing attention to its own construction.
The Lacanian psychoanalytic perspective offers an interesting lens through which to view the film. The film's portrayal of Dublin as a labyrinthine space can be seen as a metaphor for the psyche. Val Barber's search for the missing girl can be seen as a quest for self-knowledge, as he confronts his own desires and fears.
Overall, Barber is a complex and thought-provoking film that rewards multiple viewings. Its blend of noir elements and postmodernist techniques creates an atmosphere of unease and tension that will leave viewers on edge. Its exploration of the psyche through a Lacanian lens adds another layer of depth to an already richly layered film.
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