The movie centers on Barney Thomson, a hapless barber, devoid of charm and 'patter' whose uninteresting life is about to go from 0 to 60 in five seconds, as he enters the grotesque and comically absurd world of the serial killer.
Robert Carlyle is excellent as the lugubrious and downtrodden Barney, but as he makes his directorial debut here his rhythm on this deadpan comedy is erratic.
Above all you have Emma Thompson delivering an infernal and hilarious performance that steals the (rotten) heart of the movie. [Full review in Spanish]
You don't have to be a Scot to laugh yourself silly at The Legend of Barney Thomson, although canny viewers will no doubt catch more of the inside references.
There may be no improvement of the human condition to be found here, but there's a pervasive solidarity - like a ratty sofa whose dilapidation is inseparable from its coziness.
Thompson steals her scenes and provides many of the comic highlights, while the screenplay gradually becomes detached from reality and loses its emotional grip.
Scottish actor Robert Carlyle makes a bold impression as a first-time director with Barney Thomson, a brash, dirty little film that's eager to please in devilish ways.
