The Filth and the Fury: A Sex Pistols Film
A very well made film depicting the 26-month life and death of the Sex Pistols, one of the most important bands to come along in the history of rock n roll. The flim was made in co-operation with the (surviving) Sex Pistols and includes a lot of archival footage of early concerts. No punches are pulled when band members describe the other members and Malcom McLaren. Quite insightful and inciteful.
While an excellent film, I have two quibbles. First, it’s not always easy (or possible) to tell when the voice over interview is current or archival. I couldn’t tell, for example, whether the voice of Malcom McLaren was made for the film or was cut into the film from an older interview somewhere else. Same with a couple other of the interviews. One thing is crystal clear: Johnny Rotten hates McLaren with a hatred that knows no depth. It was also surprising to see Rotten moved to tears when talking about the death of Sid Vicious. Well, maybe not “see” as the contemporary interviews with the band were all done with backlighting so you couldn’t see their faces, but you could hear it in his voice.
My other quibble is less important, but there one point that was only touched on was the difference in UK and US punk. UK punk was far more a political movement than in the US. The US was still caught up in the Vietnam war (even if it had been over for a few years), the death of the economy, and the death of the large cities (Ford to City: Drop Dead). I think it would have explained another reason why the Sex Pistols didn’t have the same reaction here (US) as there (UK). Well, except for the revulsion of the power structure. What I mean is the fans were fans for different reasons.
Anyway, excellent movie, well worth watching.
; would watch again.
