Although it’s been in limited release for some time now, Steve McQueen’s highly acclaimed Shame just showed up in indie theaters in Cleveland this week and I finally saw it last night. In case you haven’t heard the buzz yet, Shame chronicles a few days in the life of sex addict Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) who is forced to curtail feeding his addiction when his sister (Carrie Mulligan) shows up for an unexpected visit.
This movie has been on my mind all day. I initially walked away from the theater a little confused on how I felt about the film, but the more it weighs on my mind the more it gives me to think about. Shame is a highly stylized piece with gorgeous cinematography that art-house fans will love. On the other hand it moves at a slow pace and its seemingly intentional lack of a formal plot will frustrate mainstream movie audiences. Don’t get me wrong, the subject is compelling and a great deal of emotional range is explored by Fassbender and Mulligan (Mulligan is worthy of a best-supporting here). The story is about the relationship between these siblings and what they may have experienced in their childhood that lead to them becoming the adults they turned out to be. I think one of the most memorable movie lines ever was born here when Mulligan says “We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Which in and of itself is as intense and disturbing as their uncomfortable relationship.
Like I mentioned, McQueen’s cinematography is stunning and captures the gritty hues of New York City night life. But for me, the unexpected element is the lush soundtrack which appropriately evokes all the indulgence of Studio 54 book-ended by somber interludes of an orchestral score by Harry Escott. In fact, Shame’s soundtrack is responsible for re-acquainting me with Chic’s I Want Your Love, my iTunes download for the day.
So is it worth $9.50 to see in theaters? All in all, I would say yes. That is if you have patience for this type of movie. I would best describe it as a simple character study of a complex character who never really evolves or comes to an epiphany. That is, until the very final seen where the look on Brandon’s face says it all (you’ll know what I’m talking about if you see the movie).
And now the stuff gay people like:
- Michael Fassbender naked... like a lot in this film. He has a perfect torso and great ass! As an added bonus we even get a few quick glimpses of the full front.
- Fassbender’s really awesome wardrobe. I only wish I were as lean as him so I could look just as good in pea coats and scarfs.
- Carey Mulligan’s wrenching rendition of “New York, New York.”
- One gay bathhouse scene.
