Definitely Not a Film to be aSHAMEd of! (Shame Review)

Artistic, brutally honest, dark, deep, and beautiful: one of THE best films of the year…one of THE best in the past 10 years or so even!

The Performances

Raw and not ashamed to bare it all, Michael Fassbender goes leaps and bounds above any other actor out there today. From the full frontal nudity, to the graphic sex scenes, to the gut-busting honesty that this man portrays, it was such a well-performed and very believable performance! The good-looking part is obvious to see (what a fox!), but it’s his subtle charm and quiet power when not saying a word that really makes his performance outstanding! Just a simple stare steals the entire screen.

And not to mention the chemistry with his sister Sissy played by the extraordinary Carey Mulligan is a standout in the film as well. They both bare all (literally), and it all pays off.

The Sexuality

Nothing was unnecessary. Yes there was a lot of graphic nudity and sex sexuality, but an honest look into sex addiction, what do you expect to see? The sexuality was a performance all on its own. Nothing seemed out of place. As spontaneous as the scenes were, they made sense. For an addict, the impulses can take over in a second and there’s no controlling it even if they wanted to. It’s brutally honest and raw, and it’s shocking to see that sex can in fact be a real addiction, almost as dangerous as drugs or alcohol.

The Honesty

There was no play acting, there were no awkward or weak moments. From beginning to end, everyone and everything on the screen was top-notch and so realistic. From the editing in the opening scenes, to the close-up shots and cut-away shots when we see that Brandon (Fassbender) is about to let his impulses get the best of him, everything about it was truthful and real.

I can tell that some people may feel uneasy and even a bit uncomfortable with how realistic the sex scenes are throughout the film (I am warning you, it is very graphic at times), but nothing was off-putting. Again, how can you tell an honest film about sex addiction WITHOUT showing how fast the impulses take over and how many times a person can give into the addiction in just one day (hell, even in just one night).

Final Thoughts

It’s a must see, but definitely not for everyone. If you appreciate art, if you appreciate reality, and you don’t like to give into bullshit stories and performances, then this film is the must-see for you!

Oscar Predictions?

The film itself deserves a nomination for Best Picture, along with the amazing direction of Steve McQueen (Best Director). Carey Mulligan deserves recognition for Best Supporting Actress, but the shoe-in (and my pick for the win as well) is Best Actor for Michael Fassbender.

FINAL GRADE: A+