Movie review by Dennis McDonald
Barber has many familiar elements of detective movies, but they are presented in a fresh, engaging, and unique way.
We spend much of the time on the gritty and almost nondescript streets of Dublin, still recovering from the debilitating COVID-19 lockdown. Former police detective Valentine Barber, now a private investigator (we eventually find out why he resigned), has been hired by an elderly lady to find her missing granddaughter.
The investigation uncovers the usual sordid details including police corruption, sexual misadventures, and evil government officials. There is also an entire plot thread centered on Barber's own sexuality and its effects on his family. The stress Barber undergoes as he constantly shuttles between job and personal life is apparent in his face; he’s hanging on.
There are no car chases, no shootouts, no long and histrionic speeches or monologues. At its heart, Barber is a straightforward police procedural where details are gradually revealed and become increasingly complex and intertwined.
What I enjoyed most about Barber were the characters, pacing, and dialogue.
Starting with Barber himself (a stoic Aidan Gillen), the characters are numerous but all well-acted. It's a real mix of ages, sexes, sexual preferences, and ethnicities.
The pacing of the film is straightforward and deliberate. We follow investigator Barber from morning to night as he steadily works his way through his day and the pursuit of "truth" – and the missing girl. Along the way, we learn about him, his family, and his backstory, all of which are nicely balanced as the mystery progresses.
Probably what I enjoyed most is the dialogue. No long speeches or meandering statements; just short, direct, and meaningful conversations.
At the same time, scenes and conversations are not rushed. The film is edited very conservatively but tightly, without rapid or jarring cuts, and this contributes to the movie's overall effectiveness and storytelling. I wouldn’t mind seeing another Barber film.
Recommended.
Review copyright (c) 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald
