Netflix | Release Date: December 16, 2016
5.9
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
14
Mixed:
10
Negative:
5
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4
ScraperDec 17, 2016
Netflix has production values down pat. Barry employs patient cinematography, lighting that compliments mood and tone, and Devon Terrell's Obama is spot on without being a caricature. However, the film's foundation is a faulty one. It cruisesNetflix has production values down pat. Barry employs patient cinematography, lighting that compliments mood and tone, and Devon Terrell's Obama is spot on without being a caricature. However, the film's foundation is a faulty one. It cruises on the idea that despite the fact that Barack Obama is the most influential political figure of my generation, he still experienced that same raw journey living in the city that we all did. I kept wondering why the writers would think it would be shocking or provocative to show him drinking, smoking, and flirting. 90% of the experiences didn't seem worth talking about. Politically, Obama was represented with a few pieces of knowledge that we've known about him and expanded into soft, semi-clever, brief dialogue. It was as if the writer really didn't know enough about the man so to avoid misrepresentation they didn't include details and idiosyncrasies. Someone took a few pages of his college years and stretched it into and hour and half. The material was honestly quite dull for such an interesting guy. There are some people in the midwest who collect Elvis memorabilia. Their whole house is filled with tacky Elvis stuff everywhere. This is one for the Obama collectors. Expand
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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8
Kar_RwenDec 21, 2016
Barry is a good film. Yes it has its flaws that are evident like a lot of the time it feels like its struggling to build a complete world around a person who we don't know much about at this point in his life. But despite this, the film takesBarry is a good film. Yes it has its flaws that are evident like a lot of the time it feels like its struggling to build a complete world around a person who we don't know much about at this point in his life. But despite this, the film takes us on a journey successfully, in that by the end I'm left thinking "I get it", or more importantly, "I get you, Barry". Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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8
bradens584Dec 20, 2020
When it comes to my personal politics, one of the things at the forefront of my political identity is my admiration for the life and work of Barack Obama. So needless to say, going into his biopic Barry, I was excited. And I was let down, butWhen it comes to my personal politics, one of the things at the forefront of my political identity is my admiration for the life and work of Barack Obama. So needless to say, going into his biopic Barry, I was excited. And I was let down, but also somehow given something better than I could have hoped for. Barry tells the story of a young Barack Obama going through university and the various trials and tribulations of that, while forming his political views. But if you’re watching this movie BECAUSE it’s Barack Obama, you’re going to be thoroughly let down, as I was. But if you want a well acted, well shot and well written tale of an African American man grappling with prejudice and privilege in the environment of a high end university, then this is the film for you. There are some really good discussions in this movie about race, where, unlike some films, a reasonable person could take either side, and when a film can pull that off it’s incredibly thought provoking. However, the movie is paced incredibly poorly, when it ends it feels like it’s the end of the 2nd act, and, though this may be my personal taste shining through, there were portions that were quite uninteresting. But overall, I would definitely recommend Barry to anyone who’s curious about the story. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
MaxwooAug 17, 2020
Love the comedy factors and the sudden stop at some certain points, and the actors are just so amazing with their acting inside acting.
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