Shame

Much to the chagrin of director Steve McQueen, ‘Shame’ became notorious at various film festivals around the world for two reasons- firstly through critical acclaim, but secondly it sparked furious gossip due to the obvious sexual nature and, er, ‘revealing’ shots of its star. But amid all the controversy there is a film that many are hyping as an Oscar contender. So, it worth the buzz?

Set in New York, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a high flying professional with an expensive apartment and all the trappings of a successful life. Emotionally, however, he is a shell. Brandon has a raging sexual addiction which has taken over his whole world, leaving him unable to connect with anyone. He has so far been able to keep these urges under control, however when his fragile and manic sister (Carey Mulligan) arrives unannounced at his apartment, things begin to descend into chaos.

Let’s get this out of the way- yes, you see Fassbender’s gentleman parts. Frequently. Yes, you see him hump anything that isn’t nailed down. This is a movie that is partly about a sex addict, and as such Brandon is seen making a whole lot of whoopee with women and, in one instance, men. But that’s not the whole story, as there are many elements that make this more than simply a rude arty flick. One of them is McQueen’s direction, which is unflinching in its examination. The addiction is not made light of or glorified; we could very well be watching an alcoholic or a drug addict in terms of tone. He’s also a director that doesn’t rely on dialogue, trusting Fassbender to put across what is not in the script. It’s not the most cheerful of films; we are delving into a man’s disconnection from the world around him, his unstable, insatiable addiction that threatens to prevent him from truly ever being happy, and the connection with his sister, with an unmentioned event that has clearly left them both damaged.

The other half of this creative partnership is the awesome Michael Fassbender. Many reviews on this site have heralded the Irish actors’ work thus far, in films such as ‘Inglourious Basterds’, ‘Fish Tank’ and last year’s ‘X-Men: First Class’, and if you needed any more convincing this film proves that the actor at his best can be very special. Complemented by Mulligan, clearly digging into her role as the wild child who is as lost as her brother, he (along with McQueen) takes you to a place darker than most dramas would dare venture. Often disturbing, but always breath-taking.

Staying with you long after the cinema lights have come up, it might take some time for all of what ‘Shame’ is trying to say to sink in. Once it does, however, you realise you’ve seen a drama that digs around inside a very animal part of the human psyche, and just like ‘Hunger’, delivers the results in a stark but wonderful fashion.