Barry

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Barry

2016

1h 44m

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Barack Obama arrives in New York in the fall of 1981 for his junior year at Columbia University. He struggles to stay connected to his mother, his estranged father and his classmates.

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Critics Consensus

Barry opens a speculative window into a future president's formative college years, offering a flawed yet compelling glimpse of American history in the making.

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Karl Quinn

The Age (Australia)

08/03/2018

Barry pays off in the end. It takes its time, but it gets there.

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Tim Cogshell

Alt Film Guide

03/08/2017

3.0

...thinking about Barry, the 1981-set film about a young Barack Obama as he arrived in New York City to attend Columbia University, I found myself thinking about a young Me in 1981, as I arrived in New York City to attend Columbia University...

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Alan Scherstuhl

Village Voice

12/29/2016

These moments proceed like comic-book panels, each communicating a single point, with little nuance for us to discover.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

02/14/2019

4/5

Biased and showy hero worship is rightfully absent for a solid biography slice.

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Charles Mudede

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

08/03/2018

There is nothing presidential in Devon Terrell's very entertaining portrayal of Barry (and he is only called Barry in this film -- Barack Obama is too grand and complicated a name for this easygoing fellow).

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José Teodoro

Cinema Scope

10/12/2017

With its emphasis on a sense of place and all the ways a young person can feel out of place, Barry isn't a biopic but, rather, a film about race, class, gender, and general tribalism in America.

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Scott W

@RT82365565 Jan 28

Good story. Fairly well done

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meredith w

@Dufflecoats 01/29/2023

This look into the early life of U.S. President Barack Obama focuses on his time as one of the few black students at Columbia University NY in the early 80's. Devon Terrell does a decent job showing him as trying to find his place in the world, but the sometimes painstakingly slow, meaning that not a whole lot happens.

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02/01/2021

This look into the early life of U.S. President Barack Obama focuses on his time as one of the few black students at Columbia University NY in the early 80's. Devon Terrell does a decent job showing him as trying to find his place in the world, but the sometimes painstakingly slow, meaning that not a whole lot happens.

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11/03/2020

The movie is a lost and wandering as the main character, Barry. Could have been so much more, but it just felt unfinished or at least, not fully developed. Definitely a Netflix type of movie.

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steve d

@RT35616104 07/17/2020

Interesting, powerful and well acted, I just wish it wasn't so speculative.

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02/07/2020

A decent biopic that is part of American history.

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Vikram Gandhi

Director

Devon Terrell

Barack Obama

Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlotte

Ashley Judd

Ann Dunham

Jenna Elfman

Kathy Baughman

Annabelle Attanasio

Sylvia

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Barry: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Barack Obama arrives in New York in the fall of 1981 for his junior year at Columbia University. He struggles to stay connected to his mother, his estranged father and his classmates.

Director: Vikram Gandhi
Producer: Vikram Gandhi, Dana O'Keefe, Teddy Schwarzman, Ben Stillman
Screenwriter: Adam Mansbach
Production Co: Black Bear Pictures, Cinetic Media
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 44m

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