Review: Shame

The only Shame review on the internet that doesn’t talk about Michael Fassbender’s magnificent penis

The story of a man losing his humanity and morality to a vice is as old as time. Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Grey” is a perfect example of this. In Steve McQueen’s Shame we delve into sex addiction, how the compulsion for the physical act replaces intimacy and is a barrier to creating meaningful relationships with people. In a world where any sexual act is only an internet search or a phone call away,

Michael Fassbender stars as Brandon, a sex addict whose charm and likeability mask his detachment from those around him. He internalises any emotion and closes his life off from anyone having any kind of meaningful relationship with him. His professional life as a corporate high flyer in New  York City enables him to feed every carnal pleasure he can to feed his addiction. No avenue is left unexplored, whether it be simple one night stands,internet pornography, prostitutes to even masturbating in his office toilets.He’s a man completely controlled by the instant gratification of an orgasm.The fornicating serenity of his existence is then shattered by the arrival of his extrovert sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan). Sissy is the very antithesis of Brandon, she’s pure emotional personified, whereas Brandon struggles to control his urge for sex; Sissy cannot control her need for intimacy and comfort, this forced relationship only compels Brandon spiral even more out of control.

Using New York City as the backdrop to the story is an inspired decision by McQueen. As beautiful as McQueen shoots the city, we are never far away the dark underbelly of New York and the wealth of sexual opportunities “the city that never sleeps” offers to an addict such as Brandon. Those familiar with Steve McQueen other film, his cinematic debut “Hunger”, will know of his directorial style. Every single frame of Shame is shot exquisitely, using long uninterrupted takes he manages to capture every nuance of Fassbender’s and Mulligan’s performance.

Shame doesn’t pull any punches with its frank depiction of sexual acts and nudity. The film starts with a fully naked Brandon walking around his sparse apartment. In the end it’s impossible not to see the film through the eyes of Brandon;it’s never titillating, instead it’s shown as joyless. It becomes simply flesh slapping on flesh, without any kind of intimacy or feeling sex is simply a means to an end.

Michael Fassbender is wonderful, he portrays Brandon with such restraint that when you do see the cracks in his façade and what humanity he has left it’s all the more moving. It’s an acting master class,without needing reams of dialogue he’s able to give Brandon a history and even manages to somehow make this wealthy successful sex addict a sympathetic character. It’s an award worthy performance and probably his best to date.Mulligan is given the difficult job due to the fact she’s given less screen time, but she’s able to create the ying to Brandon’s yang.Sissy’s wounds are there for all to see, both emotionally and physically,again I’d be hard pressed to think of a better performance Mulligan has given in her career. The scene in which she sings “New York, New York”in a crowded bar is one of the most beautifully heartbreaking scenes of the year. In those three minutes we feel the pain and longing for love that Sissy has and we see Brandon struggle to understand and control his feelings. It is breathtaking cinema.

Shame isn’t afilm for everyone, the graphic depictions of sex and nudity will put some people off. Others will bemoan the lack of dialogue and humour in the film. It’sa stark bleak story of the nature of addiction and as well as being beautifully directed by Steve McQueen, it contains to of the stand out performances of the year from Fassbender and Mulligan. It’s a film that doesn’t needyour love but it demands your respect.

Down with Film rating 9/10