It’s rare to see an NC-17 rated movie these days. Mainly because filmmakers can get away with quite a bit or end up cutting it down.
British artist turned director Steve McQueen’s latest film “Shame” earns its NC-17 rating, not at first but gradually. Don’t expect a steamy romance though, because “Shame” is a cold and depressing character study that’s not very sexy. But that’s the point; since the movie revolves around the sad life of a sex addict, the sex is ugly and meaningless instead of hot and heavy.
The sex addict is Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a tall, handsome, neatly groomed Irish American. He lives in New York City in a sleek modern apartment. He works at some kind of white-collar business where he doesn’t appear to have many friends, probably because he doesn’t want anyone to know of his addiction, or his “shame.”
The situation gets more complicated when his sister Cissy (Carey Mulligan, in another emotionally stunning performance), whom he barley knows, shows up to try and reconnect. On the surface she seems like an attractive, outgoing, free spirited girl but pretty soon her own emotional baggage and sexual problems emerge.
Now, regardless of the outstanding work from McQueen and co-writer Abi Morgan, this movie wouldn’t be nearly as good without Fassbender. The 34-year-old Irish actor has been having a fantastic movie year, with three other exceptional performances. He’s the driving force in “Shame,” delivering an emotionally complex performance. He’s a tortured soul. One minute he’s friendly and charming, the next he’s cruel, especially toward Sissy, and then at other times he breaks down. Half of his performance involves not talking, having to convey his emotions through his facial expressions. There’s a soundless scene (except for music) toward the end where he discovers Sissy’s suicide attempt that will bring you to tears.
“Shame” is more of an addiction movie than a sex movie. To Brandon, sex is nothing more than quick and instant gratification. He hires prostitutes, takes home random women from clubs and even on one occasion goes to a gay club. It’s pathetic enough that he has to constantly self-gratify himself when he’s not busy with someone else, whether it’s in the shower or on the toilet. The numerous scenes of him doing it at work in a bathroom stall should easily bring to mind the classic image of a junkie sitting on the toilet trying to melt some heroine on a dirty spoon.
What’s even more pathetic is that he can’t perform when it counts, like when he attempts to seduce a co-worker who he’s gone on a date with, but right after he’s canoodling a random girl with ease.
And for being a sex addict Brandon isn’t your typical ladies’ man. He looks like it, yes, but he’s not totally smooth or flirty. More often than not he comes off creepy instead of charming, prowling around the dark streets with his hands in his pockets staring at and stalking potential sex partners. In the beginning sequence he sits on a subway eyeing a pretty girl. She looks interested but when she gets up to leave, the shot reveals a wedding ring on her finger and a look of panic. Brandon follows her off, chasing her through the crowded station almost like a serial killer trying to pounce on his prey.
However, McQueen and Morgan aren’t trying to make a public service announcement. Brandon doesn’t try to get help, nor do other people tell him to get help. In fact there isn’t necessarily a happy resolve--optimistic yes, but not happy. There are a few high points here and there but most of the time the movie is a downer and a little hard to watch at times. For that reason, I’m not sure if “Shame” will be a huge crowd pleaser. It’s not exactly a movie that you enjoy but endure. That’s not surprising with McQueen. His previous film “Hunger” (which also starred Fassbender) was a compelling but sickening journey involving a hunger strike in an Irish prison.
Now some people will endure “Shame” and appreciate it for what it is while others will be completely turned off by it. Also McQueen’s filmmaking style is for the patient. Most of the scenes are drawn out (single shots lasting up to a minute or even two minutes) and sometimes linger a little too long, but McQueen isn’t trying to hurry the movie along or throw a bunch of stuff at you. The extended scenes allow you to take in the moment and feel what the characters are feeling.
“Shame” is subtle and quiet (there’s very little music) yet there are sequences of shear intensity. And then there’s Fassbender, if anything his performance needs to be seen.
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