Filth

It’s a filthy job getting to the top, but somebody’s got to do it!

Filth is a film adaptation of the 1998 crime novel of the same name, which is written by Scottish author Irvine Welsh. However unfortunately I haven’t read the book. But after seeing the film I do want to!

Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy) is a bigoted, scheming and corrupt policeman who will stop and nothing to get what he wants, a promotion is up and he wants it. He sets up certain events to make sure that his fellow police officers are ruined so his looks like the only suitable person for the promotion. Bruce is the head of a brutal murder investigation but starts to lose himself in a web of deceit that he can no longer control, trying to juggle turning his colleagues against one another, A missing wife, having affairs with his colleagues wives, the drugs and the booze, can Bruce hold onto reality long enough to get that promotion?

First of all I’ve got to say James McAvoy is a very underrated actor with films such as “Wanted” and “X-men First Class” he started to show some good talent however for me it was “Trance” that really showed me how talented this actor really is. If you haven’t seen trance (I know many of my friends don’t even know about it) do check it out!

Right back to Filth, this film is Filth! Loved it! I remember when I saw the trailer I kept going on about it to my friends, I really wanted to see it and did it disappoint? Nope! The films has an 18 rating and believe me it does earn that 18 certificate lots of sex, masturbation, drugs (a lot of drugs) and booze!

The reason I love James McAvoy in this film is because Bruce is such a complex character, the guy has a problem, he is not well, from drug abuse to sometimes being a psycho, it does take a while to understand what is actually wrong with this person and I feel James McAvoy’s portrayal was brilliant and very realistic.

As with a lot of films these days your either going to like it or hate it, however I can’t understand how you can expect anything different from filth other than what it is. You should expect a lot of violence, a lot of swearing, pornography & masturbation, depression and mental illness. It’s a movie for those who don’t get offended very easily.

Personally I think the film was brilliant it will make you laugh, it will make you cringe and it will make you think “What the fu*k”, the acting was definitely on point and the overall feeling at the end is that you’re watching a man lose his mind. Once again this film is utter filth!

Rating 8/10

By Fiaz Ali

Trance

OK let me first start by saying this will be a short review, mainly because of the fact that it’s so easy to give away too much about this film.

Trance is Danny Boyle’s latest film, now personally I haven’t seen many of his films apart from; 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, The Beach and Trainspotting. I liked 127 Hours mainly because it was actually based on true events, Slumdog Millionaire however was a bit too over rated for me, yes it was a good film but it was “Over Hyped” by many. The Beach and Trainspotting were both good in their own ways.

Trance was filmed during the preparation around The Olympic Opening Ceremony but don’t let that put you off by thinking it’s a rushed and simple film because that’s far from the truth. So far this film has been getting some mixed reviews, some loved it and some hated it (a lot like marmite) but I will warn you now, this film is not a film to just sit back and watch you need to engage your brain, there will be times where you don’t know what the hell is going on, but that’s all part of the fun.

Simon (James McAvoy) works at a major art auction house. Franck (Vincent Cassell) and his gang plot to steal a very expensive painting, but things don’t go according to plan and the painting disappears, to make matters worse Simon (the only guy who knows where the painting is) is suffering from a severe case of amnesia due to a blow to the head. Their only hope to find the painting is to get Simon to remember, in order to do this they employ the expertise of a hypnotist (Rosario Dawson)

So with the hope that I haven’t given much away I urge you to go and see this film in cinemas now.

Rating 7/10

By Fiaz Ali