Rent Shame (2011)

Best film of the year - Shame review by VT

Shame is a powerful, moving and deeply compassionate film about damaged, dissociated people, with stunning performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. "We're not bad people," says Sissy, "we just came from a bad place."

I was wary of another film by Steve McQueen after Hunger which was an emotionally detached study of the Irish Republican Bobby Sands and his last days in prison on hunger strike.

Shame is just as well crafted and beautifully shot as Hunger but far more humane, both in the vulnerability Carey Mulligan brings to the part of Sissy and the depth of Fassbender's performance.

This film is about running away from the traumas of the past - which are not disclosed in the narrative - and the tragedy of addiction.

Extremely poor - Shame review by CP Customer

The film seems to have no real plot and just too much sex it makes for uncomfortable viewing.I did not really get what the whole thing was really about

A graphic, provocative & extremely uncomfortable film about addiction, with incredible performances - Shame review by TB

This is a film that pulls no punches. It is a beautifully shot, stunningly acted nightmare.

This is a film which poses the question "What if you were successful, had escaped your traumatic early life and had everything you wanted, but also were addicted to sex/sexual activity? And in today's world of internet pornography & easy hook-ups, you could have everything you could possibly want?" That question is answered in the most traumatic & searing way imaginable.

As with other films that deal with sex, the vast majority of the media attention was on the nudity & sex scenes. But this film is so much more than that. It is a difficult but compelling watch, full of long shots, acting without words, poignant pauses.

Michael Fassbender is phenomenal, a complete revelation. This is and probably will always be for me his best performance. Totally vulnerable, exposed and open. A character who literally is actively running towards his own destruction.

Carey Mulligan is also great, although I have to be honest and say that Sissy for me was in many ways a very annoying character. But she and her brother's shared trauma was powerful and a critical element of the story.

But there is for me one massive problem with this movie which prevents it getting 5 stars. Only in one scene, in a casual passing comment, is there any reference towards the dangers of what Brandon's behaviour could lead to. In this film world, there is no thought or mention of STI's, diseases or HIV/AIDS. And for a film who's themes are so focused on destruction & danger, for this to barely be mentioned is a real glaring omission.

But as a piece of work, it is incredible. I did love it and encourage you to watch it. You probably will only be able to watch it once and also won't want to have sex for a month afterwards though...