Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Filth (2013)

Director: Jon S. Baird
Writers:  Jon S. Baird, Irvine Welsh (Novel)
Cast:       James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan


A corrupt cop manipulates and hallucinates his way through a bid to secure a promotion and win back his wife and daughter.

Film is an adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel of the same name. Trainspotting was hilarious and repulsive at the same time whereas Filth lives up to its title by being more repulsive than hilarious. Bruce (James MaAvoy) is a thoroughly unlikable character who bullies and deceives his way through his colleagues projecting all his insecurities on them. James McAvoy's performance as Bruce is great but the problem I had with the film is that the supposed twist at the end has been done to death. Also the tone of the film is not consistent since it cannot make up its mind as to whether it is a comedy or a repulsive thriller. The motivations for Bruce to behave in such a manner doesn't justify his actions making him thoroughly unlikable. I don't have a problem in watching a film where we don't have anyone to root for as long as they don't try to make us rethink about the central character at the end which I think is a bit disingenuous. They should have just gone full retard. It was interesting to see 'Frank Sidebottom' character used in this film since I saw 'Frank' quite recently.

All that said it is a pretty good one time watch with great production quality and soundtrack. Radiohead's 'Creep' at the end is quite apt. Watch it like as if you would watch a cheap B-film like Danny Boyle's 'Trance' was. 

Rating: 3/5

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