Shame (18) (From The Northern Echo)

Film Review: Shame (18)

2:32pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Reviews By Steve Pratt

Rating: 4/5

ARTIST-turned-director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender follow up Hunger, their account of Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands, with an equally raw and tough no-holds-barred drama about a sex addict.

Click here to check showtimes for Shame (18)

Just saying that has you conjuring up scenes of lascivious couplings and copious nudity. Shame doesn’t disappoint on that front presenting various sex variations and permutations while the leading man lets it all hang out full-frontally (just be thankful this isn’t in 3D).

But Shame isn’t a smutty, leering account of a sex addict but an emotionally draining and intelligent examination of one man’s attempt to cure himself of his addiction. The screenplay is by McQueen and Abi Morgan – how very different to her Iron Lady script.

Fassbender is 30something office worker Brandon who likes sex, whether it’s hanky-panky with an office secretary or a night-time pick-up to satisfy his lust. He’s at it during the day too, indulging in his sexual whims on his office computer.

Things change with the arrival of his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan, another brave and mesmerising performance) who needs love and understanding from him, something he’s illequipped to deliver. She wants to carve out a career as a singer and her soulful, very un-Liza like rendition of New York New York is a spellbinding moment.

Shame, with its unabashed approach to sexual matters, might be too much for some people but those who like their movies strong and dark will find much to admire. And Fassbender, who seems to be in every other movie that’s released at the moment, is certain for an Oscar nomination.