Review of The Filth and the Fury (2000) by Lauren J — 10 Dec 2008

I saw this documentary in a film class and loved it. Now, I knew nothing really about the Sex Pistols going in, and very little about punk, but I was so taken by this film that I rented it and watched it again.

Julien Temple really captures the cultural force that was the Sex Pistols and the cultural atmosphere that created this band. The creative editing of archival footage, animation, and interviews (old and new) really paint the picture of the chaos of this band.

I loved that Temple interviews the surviving members in shadow. We only see their faces in the old footage. Johnny Rotten's charisma, even in shadow, is undeniable and it's obvious to me that without him the Sex Pistols wouldn't have become anything significant.

He is very passionate and articulate about his experiences and comes off very sympathetic by the end of this. He describes how he loved talking to all of the interesting people in the audience after a show- cut to Glen talking about how he just wanted to get laid.

When he breaks down while taking about Sid Vicious' death, it is devastating ("All's I can tell you is I could take on England, but I couldn't take on one heroin addict"). Even with a singer who couldn't sing and musicians who couldn't really play (as they spoofed the Sex Pistols in a Simpson's episode: "Let's go out and play as we never have before- competently!"), the Sex Pistols made an impact.

This film did too. See it even if you think you have no interest in the subject matter.