Rent Filth (2013)

A staggeringly brilliant, extremely dark & provocative film with McAvoy's best ever performance - Filth review by TB

Irvine Welsh's writings have already given us the characters of Trainspotting, which for me basically gives him a free pass for the rest of his life, so phenomenal were those creations. But when it comes to his other novels, things have been very different. The most notable one pre-Filth was The Acid House, which also starred Ewen Bremner from Trainspotting, although his character was a world away from Spud. The Acid House was absolutely terrible: abrasive, miserable and just overall rubbish, despite the pedigree of talent both in front and behind the camera.

However, we now have another addition to the Welsh adaptations which can stand toe to toe with Trainspotting. Filth is a masterpiece: totally and utterly fearless, provocative, shocking, boundary-pushing but never for the sake of it/the shock value.

I love this film. Love love love it. Whilst the components of the film, a rogue cop who uses his cover in the police force to be as corrupt as possible, is one that has been done repeatedly over the years, very few hold a candle to this one. I need to put on record I haven't seen, although I have heard about, The Bad Lieutenant (with Harvey Keitel,) but have seen some of the other bad-cop films.

For me, the most credit for this film has to go to James McAvoy, who not only is the lead but also produced and got the film to the finish line. The McAvoy I thought of when his name was mentioned pre-Filth was of either the cheeky rude brother of Paul Bettany in Wimbledon or Wesley from Wanted, who whilst he wasn't a perfect action hero, absolutely gave it his all and made the film great. But here he is a total revelation. His Bruce Robertson is a monster, totally amoral, scheming, conniving & dangerous. Within 20 minutes of meeting him, he has already been intimate with a minor & slept with 2 of his colleagues's wives. And his singular focus is to be promoted, which will then impress his beloved wife.

The supporting cast are also brilliantly written, with Jamie Bell, Gary Lewis, Eddie Marsan, Shirley Henderson and Kate Dickie all putting in memorable performances. Jim Broadbent is a particular delight as Bruce's psychologist.

But what I love most is how dark this film goes and also the strange morality Bruce has. He will do 100 dispicible things, but then will totally flip & do something completely moral, then be profoundly impacted by it afterwards. Like many characters, he so hates what he has become but yet cannot change it, because that's who he is.

The story concerns the murder of an Asian student who is murdered, then the search to find his killers. Robinson tries to investigate this, whilst still holding on to the tiny amount of sanity he has left. But as Bruce's world turns upside down, he is forced to confront unbelievably uncomfortable home truths.

The final thing I want to mention is the ending: it is perfect. It is a masterful & deeply impactful finish, with a perfect song featuring Eliot Sumner. By the time the credits roll, you sit back in your chair, exhilaration coursing through your veins. You have been so moved by this journey and yet feel such sadness and joy at the same time.

This film won't be for everyone and there will be many who are disgusted by it. But it is absolutely a film that you feel, it pushes your buttons & makes you laugh and wince: everything that great cinema does.