I really meant to change the title of this post, but I didn’t get around to it as I’m very busy. About halfway through watching this flick I realized I wasn’t watching the romantic comedy I thought I was going to get. If you went out and watched Shame with your loved one without actually reading this post first, I’m willing to pay your first month’s alimony cost as an apology. Man, this really wasn’t the “date night” movie I was expecting.
Everyone took their clothes off for this one! There were naked people everywhere! Even the classy, Michael “Million Dollar Smile” Fassbender goes eau-nature for us. He’s in really good shape, that man (just pay close attention to those giant strides he takes when he jogs!).
As far as a storyline, he plays a guy named Brandon (for some reason, Michael Fassbender doesn’t look like a Brandon) who’s addicted to sex. I suppose this happens, much like some people get addicted to cigarettes, Snickers, Downtown Abbey, or neo-80s syth-pop. Well, he’s got it bad, and the whole movie is a snapshot of his life in the midst of it. Carey Mulligan (from the best movie of 2011, Drive) plays Fassbender’s sister, Sissy. She’s got some depression problems of her own, and hopes that maybe her brother can help a bit. However, throughout the most part of the film, I felt terribly sorry for Brandon, as he digs himself really deep, spiraling out of control. You’ll have to watch the movie for yourself to see how Brandon copes with his addiction and if he can help his sister through her issues in the meantime. I want to quickly throw out also that I absolutely loved the film’s final scene, and the choice the filmmaker made with it.
Great acting by the two main actors. Their love/hate relationship was interesting to watch. You could tell in their acting (or their direction by director Steve “Stop Calling Me Bullitt” McQueen) that they’ve had quite a past together, but that backstory remains a mystery to us. Fassbender shows a lot of versatility (which isn’t all he shows…), showing off his charm while also showing his emotional range when dealing with his self-infliction. The movie had a subtle music score, but the film’s one theme, played at least twice, reminded me of The Thin Red Line soundtrack, so I might try to hunt that down.
Like I said before, sorry about that slap in the face you received when your loved one realized that this wasn’t such a “romantic” film. Sorry ’bout that… Shame on me! Or Shame on you for going by the title of a post without actually reading it!
16/17 for the acting/directing. 11/17 for script. 15/17 for style. Overall, 14/17. Deuce says check it out, but be prepared to feel a bit, well, shameful, I suppose, for a few days afterwards. The only streaming I’m aware of that Shame is available on is HBO Go at the moment.
What’s your favorite NC-17 movie?
When that first came out (and even in the months before that) all I remember people saying about it was that everyone gets naked, especially Fassbender, so I’m surprised you didn’t know that going in. But I’m glad you liked it anyways. I never got around to watching it myself, but if you thought it was good then maybe I can track it down. Maybe I can add this to my Valentine’s Day viewing along with Shortbus.
I agree with Paul: It sounds suspicious that Deuce was “surprised”… almost as if he were going into it looking for naked Fassbender.
Anyhow, if you’re gonna do a depressing date movie marathon, also consider adding “Closer.”
Carey Mulligan wasn’t bad either…
I thought I saw Steve McQueen’s name associated with this movie; thought i was seeing things but not Bullit.
I’m going to say Midnight Cowboy is my favorite NC-17 but it was an X rating and then a R. So I’ll say Man Bites Dog. Wikepedia has a great list of stellar movies that were NC-17 at some point until they did a little snipping. hard to find a definitive list.