MovieChat Forums > The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015) Discussion > Why in the hell did Carlyle choose to di...

Why in the hell did Carlyle choose to direct this crap?!

posted 8 years ago by The-Last-Prydonian
8 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, I wasn't necessarily expecting a classic given it's 6.5 rating but I thought it would at least be halfway watchable. With Emma Thompson and Ray Winstone also involved you'd think how could you possibly go wrong. My faith was clearly misplaced because it was not only derivative beyond belief but supremely stupid and an insult anyone's intelligence. It's supposed to be a dark comedy but the laughs were just non-existent and the story far fetched. None of the characters were in the least bit likeable or remotely interesting and the plot twists were and the ineptitude of the police wasn't in the least bit believable. I realize it was meant to be a comedy and sometimes you have to suspend disbelief to some degree but this just took the cake.

The only pleasure I get from the film was recognizing the different parts of Glasgow like the Barrowlands on Argyle Street for example. Unless you're in any way familiar with the city and you're like me then you'll find nothing else to enjoy.

[–] gapeach1 8 years ago

He probably directed it because he wrote it.

[–] davidtaylor-18-447027 8 years ago

I loved it, I read the book about 18 years ago & never thought it would be made into a movie but I really did laugh out loud at the dialogue.
Emma Thompson was brilliant as his Mum & the humour was dark (truly fitting for Glaswegians)
I usually enjoy movies better after watching them for the 2nd time, perhaps you need to wait a year & then revisit it?

[–] fraser-97284 8 years ago

The first post is by far the more accurate post ...... This film is really atrocious , only worth watching to see local places ..... So basically not worth watching , actually cringeworthy how amateurish the script is .

[–] backofthevan 8 years ago

Just finished watching it and loved it. There were a lot of sly and subtle humorous moments that slipped by so fast they were maybe missed by some viewers. It was really clever with very witty lines and moments. The main players were all terrific. I think anyone who says it's boring is giving it short shrift. But obviously it's okay to have different opinions and films are certainly subjective. For me, it was a very enjoyable film, definitely a dark comedy, but definitely contains very funny bits amidst the tragedy.

Excellent work from Carlyle, Thompson and Ray Winstone. :)

[–] DropkickMick 8 years ago

Sorry but the barras aren't on Argyle, they're on the Gallowgate

[–] Montmartre1 7 years ago

i loved it. It was a brilliant dark comedy. I've driven through Glasgow and don't 'know' it at all but i loved the characters, the story line and the film. It was so darkly funny, I thought.
We can't all like the same things. So you're certainly entitled to dislike it.
I've seen it more than once. I hope Carlyle writes more!

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[–] frogca 7 years ago

It's painful to watch. I'm halfway through. How could he be so stupid . . . twice? Far fetched, indeed. Also amazing there aren't 25 other dead people over the years, given the apparently incredibly slippery floors in that shop.

How could he be so stupid to bring the labelled (by his mother) evidence to the other guy's apartment...

just not funny.

One funny moment. The wife on the phone, "If... somethig... I'll kill him." Carlyle character, standing next to the dead body, "That won't be necessary."

[–] jamotide 7 years ago

yeah it was pretty lame, the only good lines the mother had, were in the trailer, and apart from that only the male and female coppers arguing was a bit funny.