Barney Thomson

Name: Barney Thomson
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: March 11, 2016
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 59

2016

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Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Barney Thomson

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Movie Details & Credits

Gravitas Ventures | Release Date: March 11, 2016 | Not Rated

Summary: Barney Thomson (Robert Carlyle), awkward, diffident, Glasgow barber, lives a life of desperate mediocrity. His 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. [Gravitas Ventures]

Director: Robert Carlyle

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 96 min

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Critic Reviews

Joey Nolfi

Mar 10, 2016

Ultimately, Barney Thomson’s roots are exposed too easily, and the question of “where’d they get that from?” often trumps our curiosity of where the film at hand is going, and that’s a problem. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Feb 23, 2016

Carlyle shoots the story with a propulsive, page-turning energy that’s enjoyably at odds with the Glasgow backdrop, which is dilapidated to the point of timelessness. Read full review

Time Out London Cath Clarke

Feb 23, 2016

There are more than a few false notes here.... Still, the sight of Emma Thompson, wearing old-lady prosthetics and a leopard skin coat as Barney’s mum...is not to be missed. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Feb 23, 2016

Emma Thompson gives us a scene-stealing performance which is enjoyably macabre. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Feb 23, 2016

Thompson elevates and enervates every scene she’s in. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Mar 10, 2016

Despite the fertile concept, it's hard to care about, much less root for, the irritable, charisma-challenged Barney. The character never emerges as an effective hero or antihero, and performer Carlyle does little to mitigate that. Read full review

Jamie Neish

Feb 23, 2016

The Legend of Barney Thomson has a few redeeming features scattered throughout, but for Carlyle it's much too bland and undefined. Read full review

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User Reviews

Youngybhoy1988

May 16, 2016

Funny Scottish dark comedy, robert Carlyle and emma Thompson are great, some of the comedy aspects of the supporting cast are a little forced but still well worth a watch

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Broyax

Apr 28, 2021

De temps en temps, un acteur passe derrière la caméra (mais peut en même temps rester devant aussi, quelle ubiquité !) croyant ainsi avoir saisi tous les rouages et toutes les subtilités de l’art de faire un film ; cependant, il arrive qu’il confonde l’art et lard et qu’il oublie la base, àDe temps en temps, un acteur passe derrière la caméra (mais peut en même temps rester devant aussi, quelle ubiquité !) croyant ainsi avoir saisi tous les rouages et toutes les subtilités de l’art de faire un film ; cependant, il arrive qu’il confonde l’art et lard et qu’il oublie la base, à savoir le scénario !

En ce qui concerne « lard », c’est particulièrement spécieux ici, pour ne pas dire de mauvais goût et bassement provocateur ; pour ce qui est du scénario, il a été oublié en cours de route, on ne sait pas où… sans doute dans une poubelle, car il ne valait pas plus. Et encore, il a fallu négocier d’arrache-pied avec la poubelle pour qu’elle l’accepte de l’avaler. Mais ça ne lui plaisait pas du tout et elle l’a dégobillé régulièrement dans le caniveau.

Carlyle est un excellent acteur, il sait même mettre en scène, si, si, de façon très scolaire mais ça fonctionne, techniquement parlant. Encore que ce soit fait sans génie et que ça ressemble plutôt à un téléfilm. Mais bon. On aime beaucoup Carlyle, vraiment, mais cette daube de polar « décalé » est complètement nulle à chier. Et puis, j’ai eu un choc en voyant Emma Thompson… oui, c’est une mamie, maintenant !… Expand

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