Filth and Wisdom
Filth and Wisdom Image
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Metascore
26 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

User Score
4.7 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Madonna's directorial debut, Filth and Wisdom, is a hilariously sexy tale of three roommates who must delve into mischievous and naughty behavior in pursuit of bigger and brighter futures. A Ukrainian immigrant, A.K., finances his dreams of 'trans-continental superstardom' with his band, Gogol Bordello, by turning tricks as a role-playing cross dresser. As A.K. literally whips the privileged of London into shape, he also secretly pines for the object of his affection, Holly, an aspiring ballerina looking for her big break while moonlighting as a slippery stripper. Meanwhile, Juliette steals medicine from her pharmaceutical job in hopes of quenching her dreams of helping Africa's youth. Filth and Wisdom is every bit as erotic and playful as it is poignant and touching, revealing the universal struggles we all face in our pursuits of happiness. (IFC Entertainment)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 14 out of 21
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    63
    Impossibly arty and, at times, narratively incoherent, Filth and Wisdom still has its goofy charms.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    60
    There's an undeniably funky charm and abiding can-do spirit to this loose-knit portrait of three London flatmates trying to make their way in the world.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    38
    Worst of all, the movie's simply not very shocking. Madonna has made a career out of toying with image and ego, but this is a vanity project in the smallest sense possible.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    38
    It's rather sweet to think of Filth and Wisdom as Madonna's reconnection to her own boho Manhattan striver self a generation ago, and I did enjoy the last five minutes or so, when the movie essentially stopped and Hutz's band, Gogol Bordello, took over.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 2 out of 3
  1. JayH
    5
    Very unusual, but the film is a bit of a scattered mess. The cast is quite good and rather fascinating though. Curiously interesting film, but on the whole it doesn't work.… Expand
  2. EdA.
    0
    As a seasoned movie goer, I have seem some schmuck before, but this film was beyond the pale. I took my parents to see The Duchess, but we turned up 30 minutes late...the only other offering was a film called Filth and Wisdom. Sooooo....to cut a long story short, my Father (only 61) actually fell asleep 20 minutes in, about a third of the few people actually watching the film, walked out. Plot...what plot? Dialogue....toe curlingly bad. Absolute nonsense and the biggest steaming pile of....drivel, that I have ever seen. With all the media intent on the forthcoming Ritchie zing bang...Madonna should focus on being a good Mother to her children. How the hell does she have any time for them!! As my Mother said when she read the paper announcing the Ritchie split....''So, she has fired him form the job of Husband?'' Hysterical.… Expand
  3. paddya
    0
    Absolute S**T. Really. Please, avoid this at all costs. The woman has as much celluloid creativity in her whole body that I have on my fingernail...and that's my LITTLE finger..nail. You can't outdo Guy here Madgonna, sorry...you lose. Read the Reviews...they suck...bad.… Expand

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