The Legend of Barney Thomson

This jet-black comedy is the sort where complications arise because every character is incompetent. Set in Glasgow, it follows Robert Carlyle as the dour, middle-aged barber of the title who leads a boring life and, interestingly, the popular Scottish actor also serves as director, making great use of locations in his home city. One night, Barney is told that his services are no longer required, and he accidentally kills his boss during a brief scuffle. From here, the bodies pile up in macabre fashion, but Carlyle ensures that this homicidal sad-sack remains sympathetic at all times. The problem is that the end product isn't particularly funny, while the performances are exaggerated to a fault. See, for example, Emma Thompson's overly broad display as Barney's abrasive, bingo-loving mother. Black comedies are difficult to get right, of course, but despite a handful of positive attributes, The Legend of Barney Thomson doesn't quite cut it.