The Legend of Barney Thompson (2015)

      

The Legend of Barney Thomson is a film that is Scottish comedy at its finest. The Scottish actor, Robert Carlyle, decided to make his debut with a thriller the likes of "The Man Who Wasn't There" or "The Third Man" (there is even the theme that plays in that film that is heard during the Carnival scenes). However, it stands on its own, since it uses that delightful Scottish banter in the most tragic circumstances. 

Before watching this film, I hadn't heard much about it. I knew about Carlyle from 28 Weeks Later, and I had heard that he was going to be directing and starring in a film of sorts. But it wasn't until I heard good things about it from my family that I decided to have a gander at it. And I really enjoyed it.  While the story was far fetched near the end, and could get every bit as absurd as a post-Tarantino film (which I actually love in Tarantino's films), it managed to have an entertaining main character in the form of boring hairdresser Barney Thomson, whose life takes a drastic turn after his lack of communication makes it near impossible for him to keep his job. He finds himself embroiled in an investigation that pulls hair-pin turns and farce throughout. One of my favourite things about the film is interactions. The way Barney is with his friend Charlie, and how Charlie manipulates him for his own advantage is just hilarious, and the way that the responses are handled throughout - between Ray Winstone's character, Thomson, his Mum etc. - are where the film shines. The dialogue is witty, and it fits the absurd circumstances that we find ourself in. It is hard to dislike the characters despite the fact that they can do the most horrible of things at times.

Overall, while the suspension of disbelief can be hard to maintain throughout, the plot is pretty uniquely done and I had a soft spot for the Scottish nature of the film. It has a pretty universal subject matter, and if you are looking for a groundbreaking story, then you won't find it here. But if you are looking for a black comedy that isn't afraid to convey anything that may make you feel bad for laughing, then it is worth checking out.