(Historical Post - 13/05/14)
I am officially in love with and in awe of James McAvoy.
The man is a chameleon who totally loses himself in any role he takes on. He can turn his hand to anything and smash the crap out of it and Bruce Robertson in Filth is a prime example of that.
For some reason it's taken me a while to get round to it and having read the book I had reservations about how certain things would play out on screen - I needn't of worried, because even without taking into account the often quite major differences to the book, this film worked in its own right and still managed to stink of Irvine Welsh.
The main thing I loved about this film, was getting to hear James McAvoy speaking in his native accent (well almost, he's from Glasgow the accent was Edinburgh but who cares - Scottish is Scottish!) and also the fact that Jamie Bell managed to almost flawlessly mirror an Edinburgh accent - that is no small feat!
There is no denying that the film is a mish mash of oddball characters and bizarre fantasy sequences that is most definitely not for the faint of heart or the morally staunch but it's gritty and engaging all the same.
All secondary characters lacked any sort of development but there was absolutely no need for it as you are totally full to the brim with James McAvoy and his fearless performances from the get go. He just lets himself go to the character completely and you find yourself thinking 'God what a bastard!!' when we all know from the media that he is a total sweetheart.
It's a true testament to his talent that you do completely forget who he is for 90 minutes - it sounds silly but I know what I mean, for example; you watch Brad Pitt playing a whole host of characters but he'll always be Brad Pitt on screen pretending to be someone else no matter what he does. James McAvoy IS Bruce Robertson and always will be after that performance.
Even though he plays a total psycho he does manage to make the audience feel sorry for him, through the few moments he shows any emotion, only fleetingly, but he does manage it.
The film attracted a pretty impressive British cast including Imogen Poots, who I want to hate but can't quite manage it and Jim Broadbent, who I love.
Jamie Bell is another one that is so underrated it hurts; I love that fact that he does whatever the hell he wants and has made a successful career out of it - I would love to see him in superstar status but it doesn't seem that is something he even wants. He puts in a star turn as Ray Lennox who we see as the newest recruit to the team at the beginning but by the end he is a smug little shit and it's amazing to behold.
This movie is typical Irvine Welsh disgusting weirdness that shocks and entertains in equal measure we are dragged along into Bruce Robertson's descent into madness accompanied by some darkly comic performances and a fun and fitting soundtrack.
My favourite moment is right at the end when James McAvoy breaks the fourth wall and repeats his slogan - the madness is absolutely written all over his face. It made me beam with joy.
I am officially in love with and in awe of James McAvoy.
The man is a chameleon who totally loses himself in any role he takes on. He can turn his hand to anything and smash the crap out of it and Bruce Robertson in Filth is a prime example of that.
For some reason it's taken me a while to get round to it and having read the book I had reservations about how certain things would play out on screen - I needn't of worried, because even without taking into account the often quite major differences to the book, this film worked in its own right and still managed to stink of Irvine Welsh.
The main thing I loved about this film, was getting to hear James McAvoy speaking in his native accent (well almost, he's from Glasgow the accent was Edinburgh but who cares - Scottish is Scottish!) and also the fact that Jamie Bell managed to almost flawlessly mirror an Edinburgh accent - that is no small feat!
There is no denying that the film is a mish mash of oddball characters and bizarre fantasy sequences that is most definitely not for the faint of heart or the morally staunch but it's gritty and engaging all the same.
All secondary characters lacked any sort of development but there was absolutely no need for it as you are totally full to the brim with James McAvoy and his fearless performances from the get go. He just lets himself go to the character completely and you find yourself thinking 'God what a bastard!!' when we all know from the media that he is a total sweetheart.
It's a true testament to his talent that you do completely forget who he is for 90 minutes - it sounds silly but I know what I mean, for example; you watch Brad Pitt playing a whole host of characters but he'll always be Brad Pitt on screen pretending to be someone else no matter what he does. James McAvoy IS Bruce Robertson and always will be after that performance.
Even though he plays a total psycho he does manage to make the audience feel sorry for him, through the few moments he shows any emotion, only fleetingly, but he does manage it.
The film attracted a pretty impressive British cast including Imogen Poots, who I want to hate but can't quite manage it and Jim Broadbent, who I love.
Jamie Bell is another one that is so underrated it hurts; I love that fact that he does whatever the hell he wants and has made a successful career out of it - I would love to see him in superstar status but it doesn't seem that is something he even wants. He puts in a star turn as Ray Lennox who we see as the newest recruit to the team at the beginning but by the end he is a smug little shit and it's amazing to behold.
This movie is typical Irvine Welsh disgusting weirdness that shocks and entertains in equal measure we are dragged along into Bruce Robertson's descent into madness accompanied by some darkly comic performances and a fun and fitting soundtrack.
My favourite moment is right at the end when James McAvoy breaks the fourth wall and repeats his slogan - the madness is absolutely written all over his face. It made me beam with joy.