'Glenrothan' Courtesy of TIFF Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment One of our very best actors, Brian Cox, makes a somewhat belated directorial debut with the Toronto world premiere Glenrothan, in which he also stars. Set in his native Scotland and lovingly photographed, the film tantalizes even without a terribly original story. Family conflicts ripple and get fairly predictably resolved. But the cast gallops right past the clichés. To tell the story of two estranged brothers, Cox turned to another Scottish-born actor, Alan Cumming, who gives the most surprising and resonant performance in the movie. The brothers have not communicated for many years. Cox's Sandy runs a family distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Cummings' Donal has been running a music club in Chicago. But when that is destroyed in a fire, he decides to return to Scotland, along with his daughter (Alexandra Shipp) and granddaughter (Alexandra Wilkie), to see if there is any chance to renew family ties. Related Stories Movies 'Normal' Review: Bob Odenkirk Fires on All Cylinders in Ben Wheatley's Jaw-Droppingly Excessive Blast of a Crime Caper Movies Emilia Jones' 'Charlie Harper' Lands at Row K Entertainment Glenrothan The Bottom Line The cast compensates for missteps. Venue: Toronto International Film Festival (Gala Presentations)Cast: Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra ShippDirector: Brian CoxScreenwriter: David Ashton 1 hour 37 minutes The outcome of that long-simmering family quarrel is never really in much doubt, but there are still a few neat surprises involving a couple of rare bottles of whiskey and the fate of two family businesses. Cox is now probably best known for playing Logan Roy in the multi-Emmy winning series, Succession, for several seasons. But he also has had many vivid film roles, including the first incarnation of Hannibal Lecter in Michael Mann's movie Manhunter. He's graced Hollywood epics Braveheart, Troy, The Bourne Identity, mixed in with smaller gems like Rushmore, Adaptation and L.I.E. It's a pleasure to see him at home in the Highlands, and as a director he's predictably generous with his fellow actors. Cox was wise to hand the co-star role to Cumming, who shatters his usual image by "butching up," as the actor noted at the festival. (This film offers a good lesson in the rewards of refusing to typecast actors.) Cox helps Cumming to bring off one of the most rewarding performances of his long career. Shipp also scores as the daughter who knows just when to take charge of her father, and veteran British actress Shirley Henderson proves that she has the presence to make the most of a smaller role as a workhorse at the distillery, who earns a satisfying payday at the end. Even though the film runs just 97 minutes, it sometimes seems padded and plucks a bit too strenuously at the heartstrings. The overemphatic score by Tommy Reilly and Roddy Hart only exacerbates this tendency to overstate. Cox sometimes needs to place more trust in the actors and the central story without resorting to sentimental flourishes. Yet the superb cinematography by Jaime Ackroyd helps to ride over excesses in the direction. Cox's love of the Scottish countryside is apparent, and the beauty of the landscapes works on Donal as he comes to appreciate the homestead that he abandoned. Even those who have an aversion to earnest tales of family reconciliations may give this likable picture a pass. In interviews he gave in Toronto, Cox has said he might direct again, and we look forward to the results. Full credits Venue: Toronto International Film Festival (Gala Presentations)Cast: Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Shipp, Aidan Redmond, Alexandra WilkieDirector: Brian CoxScreenwriter: David AshtonProducers: Neil Zeiger, Crystine Zhang, Phin Glynn, Nicolas Crum, James Cabourne, Vladimir ZemtsovCinematographer: Jaime AckroydProduction designer: Laura DonnellyCostume designer: Carole K MillarEditors: David Arthur, Tania ReddinMusic: Roddy Hart, Tommy ReillySales agent: Protagonist Pictures 1 hour 37 minutes THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Toronto International Film Festival 'Normal' Review: Bob Odenkirk Fires on All Cylinders in Ben Wheatley's Jaw-Droppingly Excessive Blast of a Crime Caper Obituaries Paula Shaw, Actress in 'Freddy vs. Jason' and Hallmark Holiday Telefilms, Dies at 84 The Batman Paging Bruce Wayne: 'The Batman' Star Robert Pattinson Had Issues Opening Sequel Script Heat Vision Mary McDonnell Joins Marvel's 'Vision' Series and Thriller Film 'One Second After' (Exclusive) Toronto Film Festival Emilia Jones' 'Charlie Harper' Lands at Row K Entertainment united kingdom Julian Fellowes Reflects on 15 Years Captaining 'Downton Abbey,' Dedicating Third Film to Maggie Smit