Glenn Kenny

As the inquisitive and compassionate Michael, Branagh does some of his most nuanced acting in recent memory. Holbrook is uncanny as Lou — this solidly built man could be knocked over by a feather, such is the extent to which he’s been hollowed out. But the Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass (“Succession”), who plays Mariam Khachaturian, all but walks away with the picture.

When the movie gives us time with its actual flesh-and-blood components, “Heart of the Beast” consistently moves.

Gleeson, Rankin and O’Rourke all have screen presence to burn. And as it goes with more than a few movies set in Scotland, the scenery is gorgeous even when other elements feel strained.

The picture works rather well in its ultimate form. This is largely thanks to its two principal performers, whose interplay induces multiple chortles.

Ultimately, the movie barely manages to reach room temperature.

As a buddy picture, it chokes on relationships; as a heist picture, it fumbles the goods; and as an international geopolitical thriller, it doesn’t come close to sticking a landing. And it leaves more than a couple of charismatic young actors, including Quincy Isaiah and Lara Wolf, adrift.

This movie is both a headbanger and a tear-jerker.

In the United States, his breakthrough was met with intense skepticism. Male insecurity has also been an issue. And there’s another snag: So far, drug companies haven’t shown interest.

For all the committed acting and gorgeous green-and-pleasant-land scenery packed into the movie, its story might be worth taking with at least a grain of, well, you get the gist.

While the cast doesn’t exactly make the material fresh, it does command attention.