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Filth

  • 2013
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
120K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,257
283
James McAvoy in Filth (2013)
 	A bipolar, bigoted junkie cop manipulates and hallucinates his way through the festive season in a bid to secure promotion and win back his wife and daughter.
Play trailer1:06
9 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyPolice ProceduralActionComedyCrimeDrama

A corrupt, junkie cop with bipolar disorder attempts to manipulate his way through a promotion in order to win back his wife and daughter while also fighting his own inner demons.A corrupt, junkie cop with bipolar disorder attempts to manipulate his way through a promotion in order to win back his wife and daughter while also fighting his own inner demons.A corrupt, junkie cop with bipolar disorder attempts to manipulate his way through a promotion in order to win back his wife and daughter while also fighting his own inner demons.

  • Director
    • Jon S. Baird
  • Writers
    • Jon S. Baird
    • Irvine Welsh
  • Stars
    • James McAvoy
    • Jamie Bell
    • Eddie Marsan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    120K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,257
    283
    • Director
      • Jon S. Baird
    • Writers
      • Jon S. Baird
      • Irvine Welsh
    • Stars
      • James McAvoy
      • Jamie Bell
      • Eddie Marsan
    • 200User reviews
    • 264Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos9

    Official International Trailer
    Trailer 1:06
    Official International Trailer
    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
    International Trailer
    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
    International Trailer
    International Red Band Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    International Red Band Trailer
    International Red Band
    Trailer 1:13
    International Red Band
    U.S. Red Band Trailer
    Trailer 2:19
    U.S. Red Band Trailer
    U.S. Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    U.S. Theatrical Trailer

    Photos171

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    + 165
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    Top cast55

    Edit
    James McAvoy
    James McAvoy
    • Bruce
    Jamie Bell
    Jamie Bell
    • Lennox
    Eddie Marsan
    Eddie Marsan
    • Bladesey
    Imogen Poots
    Imogen Poots
    • Drummond
    Brian McCardie
    Brian McCardie
    • Gillman
    Emun Elliott
    Emun Elliott
    • Inglis
    Gary Lewis
    Gary Lewis
    • Gus
    John Sessions
    John Sessions
    • Toal
    Shauna Macdonald
    Shauna Macdonald
    • Carole
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Dr. Rossi
    Joanne Froggatt
    Joanne Froggatt
    • Mary
    Kate Dickie
    Kate Dickie
    • Chrissie
    Martin Compston
    Martin Compston
    • Gorman
    Iain De Caestecker
    Iain De Caestecker
    • Ocky
    Shirley Henderson
    Shirley Henderson
    • Bunty
    Joy McAvoy
    Joy McAvoy
    • Estelle
    Jordan Young
    Jordan Young
    • Lexo
    Pollyanna McIntosh
    Pollyanna McIntosh
    • Size Queen
    • Director
      • Jon S. Baird
    • Writers
      • Jon S. Baird
      • Irvine Welsh
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews200

    7.0119.9K
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    Featured reviews

    10TheSquiss

    Joyful depravity. Enough said!

    Mister Tumnus, I've a feeling we're not in Narnia any more…

    Think you know James McAvoy? Think again. His performance in Jon S. Baird's adaptation of Irving Welsh's Filth is astounding and there is nothing sweet or fluffy about it or any other aspect of the film. Filth is very funny, very wrong, very sordid and very likely to incite hatred from Daily Mail readers across the land. Sex, drugs, more sex, more drugs, violence, corruption, depravity, even more sex and drugs… Filth is absolutely, well, filthy, and is a memorable experience to say the least.

    My companion for the screening, Bag, made two comments that stood out post-screening. The first I agree with entirely: "With the thousands of films I've seen over the years, this is the first one I've come out of wishing that I'd made it." The second, that it was a film to appreciate rather than enjoy, I'm going dispute. Call me debauched, immoral and twisted, but I enjoyed every last nanosecond of Filth.

    But that's not to say it is always easy viewing. Far from it. Sometime after the midway point the laughs die down, the stomach churns a little more uneasily, the grimaces are more evident and the intakes of breath are more audible. We are less willing to forgive but, like the car crash up ahead that has caused all the drivers in front to rubber-neck, well, just one long look as we pass can't hurt, can it?

    Bruce Robertson (McAvoy) is a bigot. He's bi-polar, a junkie, sex-obsessed, self-obsessed, manipulative and frequently thoroughly unpleasant. He's also a cop. With a promotion in the balance, Bruce is up against several colleagues and sets about turning one against the other, unsettling them with salacious gossip and blatant lies to ensure he beats them to the post. Throw in his manipulation of fellow freemason Bladesey (Eddie Marsan), his sultry wife, Carole (Shauna MacDonald) and his hallucinatory sessions with Doctor Rossi (Jim Broadbent) and you have one monumentally screwed up anti-hero. And what's not to love about that?

    The Cohen brothers may have the monopoly on fantastic character names, but nobody writes actual characters like Welsh and the cast that Baird has poured into Filth is staggeringly good in their interpretation of this mess of freaks and misfits. There isn't a poor performance in the entire film from the uncertain laddishness of Ray (Jamie Bell) to the fantastic absurdity of Doctor Rossi. While none are bona fide Hollywood stars, the cast that glitters in a maniacal, dirty way is a treat beyond expectation: Imogen Poots, Shirley Henderson, Gary Lewis (yes, Billy Elliott and his dad are reunited at last!), John Sessions, Joanne Froggatt…

    Filth is a perfectly paced film; it roars ahead stirring emotions and judgment, exciting and thrilling as it trashes everything in its wake but it is never so fast that we feel left behind or that we've missed out on a juicy morsel of degeneracy. Sufficient time is allowed for us to filter through, as best we can, the quagmire that is Bruce's life, but Baird never pauses or permits us time to glance at our watch or neighbour.

    The soundtrack, too, is bang on the money stamping though a musical landscape that is at times acceptably cheesy and more often a reminder of what to check is on the iPod. Where else can you effortlessly segue from David Soul into Shaking' Stevens? While the latter is consigned to audio wallpaper, the bizarrely fantastic cameo from David Soul is a delight. Had Dennis Potter snorted cocaine Pennies From Heaven might have resembled this.

    Yes, there are elements of Welsh's novel that are missing (no police dogs here…) from Filth but there always have to be excisions for film adaptations and there's no reason, in this instance at least, to mark down a film for that. No, Filth is superb and as near to perfect as I've seen for many months (since Broken and Trance).

    If the trailer excited you, take the plunge. If you're a nun, a granny, my mother, or lack a strong stomach and nurture your prudishness, take a very long, very fast walk in the direction of something much safer. Dixon of Dock Green this ain't!

    If you look in the mirror and see something slightly off-kilter grinning back, however…

    For more reviews from The Squiss, subscribe to my blog and like the Facebook page.
    7zurdulla

    Mixed feelings

    Funny and dramatic at the same time. The main character of the film causes double feelings. On the one hand, he is disgusting and pathetic, but on the other hand, he is lonely and seriously ill. Guilt eats away from the inside of the protagonist. This can be seen from the last phrase: "The rules are the same everywhere." Everyone pays for their actions...
    8Bored_Dragon

    Where's Oscar for McAvoy?

    If you like "Trainspotting", you'll love this one. "Filth" is also an adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel and, although the stories do not have much in common, the movies share a specific atmosphere that will pin you to the screen. Its name fits perfectly, because the film is uncompromisingly dirty. James McAvoy plays a corrupt police detective who would stop at nothing to get his promotion. But behind the mask of a self-confident macho chauvinist, there are hidden secrets that the movie gradually unfolds, up to the totally wicked twist at the end. Although McAvoy's character is almost utterly bad guy, his rude and ruthless charm will mesmerize you and make you be on his side all the time, even when his behavior is inexcusably brutal. In addition to his undoubted acting talent, Mcavoy dedicated himself to the credibility of his performance, so he drank lots of whiskey in order to make his role of heavy alcoholic and drug addict more convincing. His transformations throughout the film, and the powerful expressions of psychological states and emotions of his character definitely deserve an Oscar. Although the film is full of insane moments, surreal scenes and filthy humor, "Filth" is primarily a powerful and shocking drama about a man who is falling apart inside, but whose life thought him that he must not show it. The film brings this phenomenon to surreal extremes, but essentially it is something with which many of us can identify, and I think that's precisely what makes McAvoy's character rather antihero than a villain, and what makes us sympathize with him.

    8/10

    I would just like to mention the remarkable performance of Jim Broadbent, whose surrealistic scenes make this film even more bizarre, and if you pay attention, you may notice tributes to Stanley Kubrick's cult films "A Clockwork Orange" and "Odyssey".
    8bialas-ole

    Take one cup of "Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas", one slice of "American Psycho" and add a bit of "Fightclub"

    If you are a friend of funny, thrilling and bizarre movies, you're gonna love this one! First of all, this movie manages to surprise you again and again till the end. It switches between funny, dramatic and thrilling elements. James McAvoy gives an amazing performance (by far the best I've seen from him) as the funny, manipulative, sick, drug-addicted, broken, Cop and manages to portrait every aspect of the character. Another piece of awesome acting is delivered by Jim Broadbent who plays his psychologist. The dialogues between him and James McAvoy are just amazing! The rest of the cast is also decent and the characters are all very special in a refreshing way. The only bad thing i can mention about this movie is, that it has some (but small) longueurs. I can recommend it to everyone who likes movies of this kind and has no problem with movies containing a lot of sex, drugs and f*cked up moments :)
    9Denisebridgetryan

    Top film!

    Probably my favourite film of 2013 so far. Gripping all the way through, with all the aspects you need from a feature length film. Yes, it has the obvious overtone of 'filth', but it's not at all in its nature... it's humorous and very touching at times. I think the casting is brilliant and I have a new found respect for James McAvoy, who in previous films I have found to be almost nondescript. He shines here, brighter than most Oscar winning performers I've seen. Ray Donovan's Eddie Marson is also fantastic in his role, so well cast - he's funny and warm in such a subtle way. This is not one of those situations when someone can rightly say 'the book is better' - I think the job has been done so well of adapting it into film format that the book is not better at all, just a different experience. It is honestly a film I want to see again. I think an instant classic, not filthy at all, but pure class.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James McAvoy has the ability to vomit at will. The scene where Bruce is sick was real vomit.
    • Goofs
      When Ray tells Bruce that he will apply for the Inspector position, Bruce burns a hole into the couch with his cigarette. In the next shot, the cigarette is completely lit, with a full amount of ashes at the top.
    • Quotes

      [from trailer]

      Bladesey: What made you join the Force?

      Bruce Robertson: Police oppression, brother.

      Bladesey: You wanted to stamp it out from the inside?

      Bruce Robertson: No, I wanted to be a part of it.

    • Crazy credits
      Light-hearted animation featuring farm animals and cast credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Projector: Filth (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Winter Wonderland
      (Inst)

      Written by Felix Bernard © 1934

      Arranged by Clint Mansell

      Published by Francis Day & Hunter Ltd

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    FAQ22

    • How long is Filth?Powered by Alexa
    • Is the film based on a book?
    • Why the title 'Filth'?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • Sweden
      • Belgium
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Scots
    • Also known as
      • Repugnante
    • Filming locations
      • Trollhättan, Västra Götalands län, Sweden
    • Production companies
      • Steel Mill Pictures
      • Logie Pictures
      • Altitude Film Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,411
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,526
      • Jun 1, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,490,396
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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