Filth

This is another high octane, adrenaline-fuelled, descent into the abyss from the author of Trainspotting.

Bruce Robertson is a boozing, womanising, junkie; he would have been fired long ago had he not been so good at his job (and digging up dirt on fellow officers). In line for a promotion, he’s threatened by the aspirations of his colleagues, such as Ray Lennox (Jamie Bell). But while they’re sabotaging his efforts to solve his latest murder case, he’s slowly turning them against one another and screwing their wives to find out more secrets. However, his past is starting to catch up with him; his colleagues are getting suspicious; the drugs are taking their toll; and the lies and cover-ups are beginning to spiral out of control so not even he knows what’s real any more.

However, this is not another bleak and grey police film; the gritty bigotry and amorality is perfectly juxtaposed by moments of unlikely humour or the sublimely surreal. James McAvoy delivers a strong performance which more than rivals his performance in Trance. Eddie Marsan is fantastic as the comic spoil Bladesey, a more than willing accomplice to Bruce’s less-than-savoury activities; and Jim Broadbent, as always, gives his all, for the small but memorable role of Bruce’s psychiatrist.

Natalie Tyldesley