The Edinburgh International Film Festival gets underway today with a local hero leading the way. Robert Carlyle’s first directorial gig, The Legend Of Barney Thomson, is the opening gala this year. The film has a new poster timed perfectly for the occasion. Click on the thumbnail for a closer look. Adapting a comic crime novel series, Carlyle stars as Barney, a hopeless barber overcome by some dark urges that lead him into a murderous spree. Cue Ray Winstone’s Glasgow detective and his high-testorone colleagues blundering about in a pursuit that may or may not end in a literal Ray Winstone floating head. Have a bang on that.
In case you were wondering, Emma Thompson's Oscar campaigning hasn’t aged her terribly. She’s been made up by X-Men and Harry Potter alumnus Mark Coulier to put the years on as Barney’s domineering mum and “good-time girl", Cemolina. It’s an intriguing ensemble enhanced by the presence of Tom Courtenay, Ashley Jensen and Martin Compston in supporting roles.
Says the festival’s new artistic director, Mark Adams: “We are thrilled to be opening this year’s festival with Robert's wonderful black comedy. It’s a marvellously macabre and playful film, impressively directed and with a terrific cast.” While its director is from Glasgow rather than Auld Reekie, there should be plenty of local goodwill – despite all those lobbed pint glasses in Trainspotting.
The Legend Of Barney Thomson is released in cinemas on July 24. For all your ticket and screening info needs, head to the official site here, and remember, [Empire** will be in town for a special EIFF live podcast on June 21](http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/ http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/films/2015/empirepodcast). Come join us for film-related fun...