As Brandon, Fassbender
strides this movie like a Colossus - in every way - but it is Mulligan
that powerfully contextualises the nature of Brandon’s underlying addiction, his own self-aggrandising isolation.
Steve McQueen directs with
flair and minimalism making NYC the third major character - the pusher who
always has something on offer and readily available. This is Woody Allen on
benzos. A single-take night time jog, and an interpretation of New York, New York that captures more about the city than a thousand overhead sweeps ever could, are both majestic. Abi
Morgan’s screenplay is a framework that allows the characters to find the words
for themselves - a remarkable achievement after her cloying signposting
throughout The Iron Lady.
Fassbender shows the despair
of addiction and inability to countenance support, therefore perpetrating the
devastating fallout for those around him. We have to want to believe in Brandon for this
story to work; and Fassbender gives us a performance that is truly believable.
In the screening I watched,
five people walked out during the third-act sex scenes, demonstrating why Shame is such a powerful and vital film.
Using the most human of instincts as its catalyst it hypothesises a version of
our individual isolation in an ever more disconnected world and offers very
little in the way of potential redemption, and that can be hard to take. Shame tells us how it is with naked honesty and
panache.
Score: 9/10
Totally loved this film. Of course, I will be shallow to admit how hot is MF! But, what I loved about this movie was how much it made me think about addiction, people and society a few days after I had seen it.
ReplyDeleteThe film's direction in several scenes stand out for me as iconic and will live on in movie history for me: 1) the night time run over several blocks in NY. Anyone who has been to NY knows that you can not walk a few blocks without the lights changing. How they filmed this was great. And, ending that scene with a broken traffic light speaks volumes, also. 2)the flirtation between MF and commuter - it's so well captured. You can feel the excitement, the tension, the frustration, the sexual chemistry, and the annoyance afterwards when MF loses her in the crowd 3)the scene when MF looks at the camera whilst having an orgy. As a viewer you think what could he be thinking.
Some scenes are cringe worthy but thought provoking when MF walks in to his sister having a shower, or when he is half naked wrestling with her. It made me wonder what happened to these two when they were younger.
Excellent, thought provoking movie, fantastically acted and beautifully directed to make this another movie that captures the dark side to the wonderful city I love called New York!
Score: 9/10