Filth

Fresh-faced James McAvoy takes the low road in Jon S. Baird's quasi-surrealistic film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel. In a bid to win back his estranged wife, Carole (Shauna Macdonald, who provides some of the narration), amoral police sergeant Bruce Robertson (McAvoy) aims to make the rank of detective inspector—by sabotaging his competitors, who include sole woman Drummond (Imogen Poots), drug buddy Lennox (Jamie Bell), and Gillman (Brian McCardie), whose wife (Kate Dickie) Robertson has been carrying on with in a sadomasochistic affair. Robertson also steals from colleagues, intimidates suspects, makes prank calls, and accepts sexual favors from underage witnesses. He even drugs Bladesey (Eddie Marsan), the closest person he has to a friend, which leads to misadventures in Edinburgh and Hamburg (Shirley Henderson plays Bladesey's animal-print-clad wife, the target of Robertson's calls). Robertson isn't a complete monster: when his attempt to save a dying man fails, he feels almost as bad as the widow, possibly due to a similar loss in his past. Robertson's psychiatrist, Dr. Rossi (a loopy Jim Broadbent), might be able to help him sort through some of these issues, except Robertson lies to him, too—assuming, of course, that Rossi even exists outside of Robertson's drug-fueled fantasies. Filth's combination of violence and kink eventually heads toward Brian De Palma territory, but while the film itself doesn't completely work, McAvoy deserves kudos for his compelling turn as a pretty bad egg. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jon S. Baird and author Irvine Welsh, deleted, extended and alternate scenes (24 min.), a “James McAvoy as Detective Bruce Robertson: The Antihero” character featurette (12 min.), outtakes (8 min.), “On the Set: Merry Filthmas” behind-the-scenes segments (4 min.), an ASX TV promo (3 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (K. Fennessy)