It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I came late to this and saw it when it was on Film 4. I was recently amazed by James McAvoy's performance in 'Split' and already adored him as a young Professor X.Seriously, if you haven't seen 'Split', you really should.'Filth' is not for the faint hearted, and is prime fodder for 'Outraged of Halifax' in the Daily Mail comments section.It's a fun ride, like a manic episode can be (I have bipolar and some things felt far too familiar) but then things become tragic, as the depressive phase tends to be. I'm still a little bit miffed about the slightly OTT portrayal of bipolar disorder - it's not a totally accurate account of the illness (hence 9 stars, not 10) - but it's nice to see someone at least try to explore it.The denouement had me sobbing like a 'little bitch with a skinned knee', to quote Jay from 'Dogma' (also a wonderful film you should watch immediately) and the very end was when I really started blubbing.As a Scot and a bipolar type 1, this felt a little too close to home and that's why I adore it. I'm going to be re-watching this as much as I re watch 'Evil Dead 2' and 'Titanic' - yes, I love 'Titanic'. What of it?

In the beginning of the movie, this movie just seems like a movie about a corrupt cop trying to outwit his way to promotion. Although he seems like a skilled detective in solving criminal cases, his bottomed out power to control his personal life is shown in various ways throughout the movie. There is suspense about the murder case as well in the movie that reveals its truth along with the hidden background story of the cop's personal life that has ultimately caused the tragedy of his mental status. I would describe this movie as an emotional or psychological thriller. Although the murder case itself may put this movie in the genre of crime/action/thriller, the focus of the movie is more on the development of the emotional status of the character himself. This movie solely concentrates of the story of a single man. And as the main character of the movie, James McAvoy has done an amazing job delivering the message. I think it is one of his best pieces. The contrast between the expression on his face that seems tough and his slightly shaking and watering eyes precisely shows the sentiments of Bruce, the cop. In the end of the movie, although it ends tragically, it leaves a strong impression to the viewer, and I personally thought that the song "Creep" by Radiohead fit in very well with its context. Anyone might have the experience of being abandoned or hurt, and while being devastated, in trying to fix the problems that cannot be turned back, turn into a "creep" in others' eyes.

One of my favorite films to date. (Top 5)One of my favorite actors and musicians are all a part of this film. Everything from the soundtrack, the directing, the acting, the writing, the humour and the drama are all incredibly well done. Filth is an Scottish crime/drama directed by Jon S. Baird and is written by Irvine Welsh who also wrote Trainspotting (the books, not the films). James McAvoy is in this film and he does an amazing job at portraying a deeply scarred man who seems to be in his own delusion and seems to be under the assumption that he is in control but in reality, he is out of control and is ultimately helpless and afraid. It is a ballsy, edgy and vulgar film depicting this mans life amongst the people he seems to look down upon as well as the demons in his head. Drugs, Sex, Gritty realism as well as quick emotional turn 'rounds are all part of this film. I understand film critics will always have a unique opinion about a film and will always have a reason for that opinion, but I just cannot seem to understand why people cannot see this movie as its own unique self and not another Irvin Welsh adaptation as everyone keeps on bringing up Trainspotting which is not what this movie is about. I understand it is difficult not bringing up Trainspotting as a reference point but for the actual critique, it just is not needed (and it does not deserve 1 star). Somehow, Filth made me like a drug-addicted, delusional misogynistic asshole who takes advantage of everybody, somehow it turned all the negatives on their head and made me feel sorry for someone so evil and mean-spirited. This films core is about self acceptance and trying to come to terms with your reality, no matter how difficult and heart-wrenching it is. We are told to see this main character as a top dog, a leader and a controller of others as well as a man who can get anything done and can get laid whenever he pleases. From the start we are introduced to Bruce as someone that should be respected which slowly starts to fade away as he becomes someone who needs to be respected and wants help as well as a meaning in his life, and when he slowly realizes he has nothing left, all is lost. We are falsely led into this mans delusion under false belief that it is his reality but really is his fantasy. He is officially a detective who is trying to get up the career ladder and is trying to get a promotion from his boss by winning this huge case that everyone seems to also want. We seem him take advantage of everyone he has to get across, even going as far as ruining his friends life from the inside out. He is horribly dysfunctional as we see him make questionable choices throughout the film as well as question his own sanity while transporting in and out of his fantasy. We start to realize that his family has probably left him due to the fact that we never see his family in the film until the very end and we are shown his crumble as a human being. James McAvoy's acting is spectacular and continuously amazes me, he reaches such emotional depth in this film, he has to switch from afraid to aggressive to sad to in control all at once and it just shocks me how he had so much control over his emotions. His character, Bruce Robertson is damaged and is despicable on so many levels but manages to win me over, he can't even be called a protagonist but a likable antagonist because there is very little to like about him except for his desire to prove himself to his family as well as prove his worth to himself. He slowly starts to see the truth and starts to recognize that everything he thought was truth is actually not truth but his ideal life. The ending is a perfect way to close everything as it feels like he finally came to terms with his life even though it is extremely bitter sweet. From the very beginning to the very end we understand this character is not supposed to be likable but we seem to find elements that are likable through the fantastic directing and screenplay as there is a recurring character that brings out a softer side to Bruce in the film as well as the drugs that takes us into the deep, dark parts of Bruce's mind that hide the truth.This film is a definite must watch and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this character come to terms with himself as well as grow and become a better person along the way.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy) is obsessed with getting a promotion. His wife Carole has left with their daughter. There is a high profile case of the murder of a Japanese student. Bruce aims to undermine his competition taking advantage of their shortcomings. DS Ray Lennox (Jamie Bell) is the junkie rookie with a small penis. DS Amanda Drummond (Imogen Poots) is a woman. DS Peter Inglis is a metro-sexual. DCI Toal is the boss. DS Peter Inglis is very Scottish. DS Gus Bain is an idiot. Bruce takes advantage of his meek friend Clifford Blades and he's under treatment with Dr. Rossi (Jim Broadbent) for an earlier trauma. He fails to save Mary's husband with CPR and she's grateful for the effort.Bruce Robertson is a great character for McAvoy. He has loads of fun doing some reprehensible things. Jamie Bell is terrific. The murder case bothered me because I kept trying to follow it. The case needs to be a Mcguffin. Showing the murder in the beginning is distracting. The movie is also disjointed with a lot of surreal turns in Bruce's disturbed mind. It's hard to piece some of it together especially with the imaginary Carole. Overall, it's a great character who does some wickedly funny schemes.