Based on the 1998 Irvine Welsh novel (him of Trainspotting fame), Filth will knock you on your arse! Starring James McAvoy, Eddie Marsan, Jamie Bell, Jim Broadbent and a host of fantastic supporting cast members complete this absolutely batshit crazy movie.
McAvoy plays Bruce Robertson, a Scottish detective on the quest for promotion who has more demons than your average purgatory. From his estranged wife and child to his obsession with eliminating the competition, not to mention a serious drug and alcohol addiction, our lead character is all kinds of fucked up. Scene after scene showcases McAvoy as simply phenomenal, with his subtle slide into uncontrollable madness highlighting an amazing range, which he handles with immense ease. He really does make it look easy. And Filth is not easy viewing, especially with McAvoy onscreen. From blowjobs with a minor to “turning off the gas”, this is a seriously demented character.
The amount of absolutely psychotic acts that he commits minute after minute would certainly turn an audience against him, but McAvoy manages to pull off an immense likeability, that will have you literally on the edge of your seat in the closing minutes. You shouldn’t care less about this character, but its testament to James McAvoy and his admission worthy performance, that you care more for him than you’d care to admit.
The same can also be said for his on screen counterparts. Jamie Bell has really evolved into one of the worlds great young actors and time and time again holds his own against McAvoy. While Jim Broadbent is mildly annoying in the beginning, he soon flexes his acting muscles. Eddie Marsan though, who has more recently been blowing minds in Ray Donovan and The World’s End, is nothing short of spectacular here either. Scene after scene, he plays this innocent, well to do bloke, encapsulated by Robertson and follows him like a willing lamb to slaughter. (Don’t worry thats not a spoiler)
Director Jon S. Baird has done a phenomenal job with his cast, extracting amazing performances all round. At times though, Filth loses it way ever so slightly, but soon pulls itself back together and gets going. Its only a minor criticism, and doesn’t really derail the movie at any point. Besides the story and the any number of scenes been demented, it wears its heart well and truly on its sleeve and will certainly tug on the heart strings in places.
Overall, Filth is one of the best movies of the year with a career best from James McAvoy and while a tough watch at times, it is simply mesmerising and shouldn’t be missed.
