Filth & Wisdom

It my country, we have a saying: Don’t pre-judge a book by its cover.

Okay, so I’m ad-libbing a little bit, but when it comes to the directorial debut of a worldwide pop culture icon and all-out music and fashion phenomenon, it is nearly impossible to not have any preconceived notions. But not entirely: as is my wont, I didn’t read anything about the movie before seeing it and avoided the trailers as well. I didn’t even know if Madonna was in it as an actor, or if her husband, crime-caper storyteller extraordinaire Guy Ritchie, had anything to do with the script, before catching a press screening last week.

As it turns out, it’s a No on the above-two counts, though there is an appropriately placed Madonna hit (“Erotic,” immediately followed by hilarious use of a Britney Spears tune). More than anything, Filth & Wisdom feels like a throwback to the French New Wave, with the director’s idol Jean-Luc Godard’s influence omnipresent. Bringing together an ensemble cast whose interpersonal and work relationships intertwine incestuously, pithy and extended dialogue scenes, shattering of the fourth wall, none-too-subtle sociopolitical commentary, compromises, moments of painfully funny irony, and unrequited love and lust: she’s got the Godard rap down.

Throw in a little Lovely & Amazing with a dash of 13 Conversations About 1 Thing and you get the idea. Yet, Madonna’s yarn of young and disparate Londoners all trying to make a buck and feed their souls is still her own and is an undeniably admirable first-feature effort.

Her flawless cast, no doubt, added a great deal to an otherwise ho-hum story. At the helm of the crew we care about is A.K. (the magnetic Eugene Hutz, whom some may remember as the scene-stealing gypsy cab driver in Liev Schreiber’s 2005 directorial debut, Everything Is Illuminated), a Ukrainian hustler with good intentions, a punk rock group, and a mouthful of “in my country” sayings and affirmations. Scruffy and philosophical A.K. shares a flat with two beautiful women: Juliette (the smart and sexy Vicky McClure) is a classy blonde with a bleeding heart and sticky fingers, while Holly (the cute and amiable Holly Weston) is a delicate, principled ballerina who reluctantly pole-dances on the side.

In the trio’s orbit are a morose blind professor who surrounds himself in a library of handsome and taunting tomes (Richard E. Grant), lovelorn Indian pharmacist Sardeep (Inder Manocha), and no-nonsense streetwise stripper Francine (Francesca Kingdon).

A too-pat happy ending nearly negates this otherwise grittily comical, self-aware yet introspective character indie, but Filth & Wisdom is definitely worth a look for fans of sublime nonsense. (Not to mention those who love Gogol Bordello, Hutz’s real-life band, which is featured in the film along with lots of other quite clever musical choices.)

Filth & Wisdom Release Schedule

California

10/17/2008 Costa Mesa – South Coast Village Regency
10/17/2008 Los Angeles – Sunset 5 Laemmle
10/24/2008 Berkeley – Shattuck Cinemas Landmark
10/24/2008 San Francisco – Bridge Theatre Landmark
10/24/2008 Santa Rosa – Lakeside Rialto ESP

Colorado

10/24/2008 Denver – Mayan Theatre Landmark

D.C.

10/24/2008 Washington – E Street Cinema Landmark

Georgia

11/7/2008 Atlanta – Midtown Art Landmark

Illinois

10/24/2008 Chicago – Century Centre Cinema Landmark

Indiana

11/14/2008 Indianapolis – Keystone Art Cinema Landmark

Iowa

11/14/2008 Des Moines – Fleur Cinema ESP

Massachusetts

10/24/2008 Cambridge – Kendall Square Cinema Landmark

Minnesota

10/24/2008 Minneapolis – Lagoon Cinema Landmark

Missouri

11/7/2008 St. Louis – Tivoli Theatre Landmark

New York

10/17/2008 New York – IFC Center Independent

Ohio

10/24/2008 Cleveland – Cedar Lee Theatre PFR
11/7/2008 Columbus – Gateway Theater Landmark

Pennsylvania

10/24/2008 Philadelphia – Ritz at the Bourse Landmark