Cinema

FILTH (2013)

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James McAvoy gives possibly the best performance of his career to date but unfortunately the film itself doesn’t come close to matching it’s power.

Here he plays one messed up copper in Edinburgh who is in the running for a promotion and will do anything to get it. As the film plays out you get to learn about his motives and what drives him.

The cast all bring something interesting to the table-Jamie Bell as a young impressionable copper, Eddie Marsan as a sappy fellow mason, Imogen Poots as another of his rivals for the promotion, Jim Broadbent giving his best in dreamstate bizarro, even David Soul turns up in one of the weirdest out of place scenes I have seen for a long while.

Irvine Welsh is a very interesting writer and during the 90’s he was churning out some great work. All the adaptations, however pale in comparison. Even Trainspotting, which was an enjoyable flick (the only Danny Boyle film I half-like), was nothing compared to the raw power of the book and here’s the problem, how do you translate the visceral nature of the written word to the big screen. Maybe it can’t be done in Welsh’s case. His writing is so different and although it can be cinematic at times it loses so much of its strength in the translation.

The shocking scenes are no longer shocking in 2014, it’s all a bit ‘yeah, and?’.

Nice to hear Clint Mansell’s soundtrack, he has been doing very well for himself in the world of cinematic orchestration since he had success in the grunge scene in the 90’s with Pop Will Eat Itself (Riffs?  Yeah? Can ya dig it?) most notably with Darren Aronofsky.

It seems at times that this is a film that would have been made better by a more seasoned, talented director. Jon S Baird is probably best known for Cass, which was alright, no big shakes.

The tragedy of it all is the fact that James McAvoy really shows us how great he is portraying the corrupt, racist copper with depth and commitment.

Let’s hope he gets a chance soon to do this on a bigger and better stage.

2.7/5

BUY THE BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE ‘Le conseguenze dell’amore’ (2004)

CQ LOVE QUADS REPRO.pdf

I recently watched La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino and was blown away.

I had been recently thinking about why I hadn’t seen any decent films coming out of Italy, it’s probably because I hadn’t seen any Italian films but this is not for lack of want.
If anyone has any recent recommendations, chuck em my way please.

Spending 2 hours in the company of Tony Servillo is like drinking a very good vintage. Smooth, deep and full of flavour and expression. All contained in one bottle, not spilling out but contained.
He does this very well and I love watching him.

I’m not going to get into the story, that’s half the fun, Paolo’s films seem to not be about a neatly tied up topic rather an truthful rendition of someone’s story at a certain point in their lives.

This is another beautiful film in which Paolo shows his love of music, people, Italy, mise en scene and stillness/space.
I love the fact that Servillo’s Titta La Girolamo takes his time in everything, answering questions, moving places, speaking in general, like he says “I am not a frivolous man”.

A stunning look at a man for whom life has become a prison of sorts and the consequences of allowing oneself to feel love again. Just beautiful. Sorrentino is becoming one of my favourite directors.

4/5

BUY THE DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE