A while ago, I did a blog about movies
I was hoping to see but they had bypassed my local cinema, and I
listed four such examples. Well, I've now seen Young Adult and My
Week With Marilyn, and I plan on ordering Martha Marcy May Marlene if
I'm unable to find it on my next cinema trip, which leaves me with
Shame (no pun intended). And that's what today's post is on, Shame.
Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender)
is a high-flying ad executive in New York, who also suffers from a
severe sex addiction. He's also estranged from his sister, Sissy
(Carey Mulligan), until she shows up at his apartment, begging to
stay with him. Both siblings have to learn how to live with not just
each other but their respective demons.
First thing I should say is that if
you're put off by extensive sex scenes... yeah, you're either going
to want to skip this movie altogether or close your eyes when those
scenes come on.
As someone who doesn't believe you need
sex to sell a story, unless it's ABOUT sex (and not pornography,
that's about people having sex, not about other aspects, which is why
I don't watch any), I knew this could get graphic.
I will also say, though, if the sex is
all you're here for, do not watch this because you don't deserve to.
This film deserves and demands more from you, and if you're not up to
task, stay home.
Sex may be a part of it, but it's not
the be-all, end-all of the film (or life, as a matter of fact, really
wish more people understood that). What Brandon is going through is
not to be envied by anyone. Sex addiction may sound humorous, since
it doesn't sound like it's something you can be addicted to in the
same way you can alcohol or drugs (and if we conducted a survey, I
bet many people would say they have a sex addiction and make some
crude joke about it).
Instead what the film does is show that
Brandon would be in the same position if it WAS another addiction.
That's not to say you can cut and paste any old crutch in there, just
that the feelings invoked would be the same. The emptiness. The
bleakness. The need to connect. The desire to feel. His sex
addiction is no different to any other, because it has taken over his
life. Not completely, mind you, it's not like he's neglecting
personal hygiene and looking like a crack addict. But it's
infiltrated his work (his hard drive has that much hardcore porn it
leads to a virus in the company's computer system) and it doesn't
stop when Sissy's around (as she finds out...).
About Fassbender himself: have I
mentioned how this guy is awesome in previous posts? Don't care,
saying it again: he's a force to be reckoned with. He has the spark
of confidence mixed with the vulnerability needed to carry this role.
But when he needs to be fierce, he gets fierce. Truly, this was a
role of high calibre for him and he nails it.
That's not to say Carey Mulligan is
slack. Oh, she's such a woobie in this, you just want to put a
blanket around her and tell her it's going to be OK. Her slow jazz
rendition of New York, New York is a highlight of the film. I'm
looking forward to seeing her in The Great Gatsby (when it eventually
gets here).
Seeing the two of them together, I'm
reminded a little of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in
Revolutionary Road: volatile and harsh, before going back to at peace
and comforting each other. Michael and Carey are able to match each
other evenly, with both proving they won't back down.
On another note, I love the use of the
soft soundtrack on the more graphic scenes. Not just the sex scenes,
but one toward the end which I won't spoil. If you were entering a
room and you had no idea what was playing, you'd be convinced you
were going to see something less dramatic. Yeah, you'd be so wrong.
That scene, the one near the end? Amazing combination of music and
imagery.
Yeah, I know I haven't commented on the
supporting cast. Well, that's because the bulk of the film is carried
by Carey and Michael. And they work wonderfully together. I'm glad to
have seen this. 4/5
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