Directed by:
Jon S. BairdScreenplay:
Jon S. BairdCinematography:
Matthew JensenComposer:
Clint MansellCast:
James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan, Imogen Poots, Brian McCardie, Emun Elliott, Gary Lewis, John Sessions, Shauna Macdonald, Jim Broadbent, Joanne Froggatt (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Scheming Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy), a bigoted and corrupt policeman, is in line for a promotion and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Enlisted to solve a brutal murder and threatened by the aspirations of his colleagues, including Ray Lennox (Jamie Bell), Bruce sets about ensuring their ruin, right under the nose of unwitting Chief Inspector Toal. As he turns his colleagues against one another by stealing their wives and exposing their secrets, Bruce starts to lose himself in a web of deceit that he can no longer control. His past is slowly catching up with him, and a missing wife, a crippling drug habit and suspicious colleagues start to take their toll on his sanity. The question is: can he keep his grip on reality long enough to disentangle himself from the filth? (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Videos (4)
Reviews (7)
Absolute perfection and the pinnacle of the comedy genre! The film is definitely not suitable for everyone! It features a lot of violence, bad language, hardcore pornography & masturbation, drugs and mental illness. All in all, it's a film that will make you laugh, chuckle and in the worst case, perhaps vomit. I've managed to enjoy this shocking ride twice now, as the film is quite a challenge to comprehend, but even the second time around it's still intense, psycho fun. 90%
()
An oddly hybrid film. The first half is a comedy, the second half a clear drama. It does work well as a whole and at least it makes you realize what an interesting country Scotland is. James McAvoy played a schizophrenic very well. I became a fan of his character right after the balloon scene. You hardly ever get to see such a scumbag. Eddie Marsan also gave a great performance. The soundtrack was excellent and aptly chosen, so it's very hard for me to find anything to criticize. I had fun.
()
James McAvoy is playing one of the most interesting characters of his career. And he plays him in such a spooky way that it sometimes made me wonder whether I was watching a comedy or a properly tangled drama with an unexpected and all the more interesting ending. Truth to be told, I think it was the latter, even though there were a few scenes I laughed at. But if you have some idea about Trainspotting or Acid House, you also have some idea about this film, as the same writer is signed under it. So count on absurdity and sometimes quite brutal scenes at the expense of fun. Everyone will probably find something different in this. Anyhow, the ending is quite a killer, and that’s exactly the reason why I was so happy with the film. I wish there were more such films with an unexpected ending.
()
If Irvine Welsh had written the book of the same name before 1992, I might have applauded him, but while watching the film Filth, I just felt like it was merely a variation of the 1992 film Bad Lieutenant, where a similarly corrupt cop was brilliantly played by Harvey Keitel. It didn't turn out any better in the remake Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans with Nicolas Cage from 2009. Filth is essentially just a British variation on the same theme, which unfortunately is sometimes too similar, although James McAvoy is very believable in it. I must, however, commend the absolutely fantastic selection of songs for the soundtrack. The film has an interesting progression in terms of what the main character perceives, but I think it could have gone even further. In that regard, it's not exceptionally unique and it only builds up well.
()
An unbalanced retelling of another one of Welsh’s books suffers from an average director who loses the ground under his feet mainly in the second part of the movie, but at the same time was incredibly lucky in casting McAvoy in the role of Robb. A marvelous concert of acting that covers up almost all flaws. On top of that, the first half is just packed with great lines... This way to the staff recruitment center, dear Santa.
()
Gallery (74)
Photo © Lionsgate
![Filth - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/157/927/157927002_b6a8b8.jpg)
Ads