Filth and Wisdom
Director: Madonna

Filth and Wisdom seems like an excellent pairing, like Pabst Blue Ribbon and Camembert cheese or buck-a-slice and Pinot Grigio. But the most intriguing pairing in one of this year's least expected films is Madonna and Eugene Hutz (the mastermind with the moustache of Gogol Bordello fame). While Madonna's concert buzz will certainly outshine the press on this little film—and it's certain that her show was infinitely more spectacular—both lovers and haters should check out Filth and Wisdom.

Backed by IFC Films, it's a strange piece of cinema that largely involves letting Hutz play Hutz and wax poetic on his personal philosophy that deems wisdom to only be achieved through filth. It's a surprisingly entertaining and cohesive film for Madge's directorial debut. It doesn't drop jaws or blow minds, but it sure keeps a person entertained. It's fun, sexy, unique, and apparently puts Guy Ritchie's new flick RocknRolla to shame.

But on with the plot (since there actually is one). A.K. is the name of Hutz's character and he's the singer in a band called, surprise surprise, Gogol Bordello. While waiting for his band to take the civilized world by storm, he keeps his moustache trimmed working as an S & M master-for-hire. Unfortunately, life can get complicated when the pony riding role-playing comes to an end. His roommates are both going through life crises: one is a whiny ballerina who can't make ends meet, so takes A.K.'s advice and gets into the stripping game (watch for a most hilarious Britney Spears reference) and the other is a pharmacist who dreams of making a difference in the lives of impoverished African children (though not through circumspect adoption), but has a habit of thieving pills from the pharmacy she works. A.K.'s blind and sardonic neighbour, Professor Flynn, played by the illustrious Richard E. Grant, is a failed poet who A.K. idolizes, but who mostly wallows in self-pitying lethargy. Ultimately, they're all characters who dabble in vice and somehow triumph because of it, albeit in unusual ways. Check out the trailer here: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/filthandwisdom/.