There is No Shame in Pain: A Movie Review (Blu-Ray)

*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by 20th Century Fox.

Director: Steve McQueen.

Writers: Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan.

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale.

Shame is a film that received a limited release in December of 2011. The reason for the limited release might lie in the film's rating, NC-17. There are a lot of sex scenes in this picture as director Steve McQueen (Hunger) brings sex addiction to the big and little screens. Much of that addiction centers on Brandon played by Michael Fassbender. This is McQueen and Fassbender's second collaboration and Shame, at its heart, is a film of sexual abuse. The evidence for abuse is there even if this message is never delivered directly.

What is delivered directly is Brandon's pain. He is a solitary man with few friends. His longest relationship has lasted four months and his hobbies include pornography, prostitution and chronic masturbation. His sex addiction leads to problems at work. More problems develop when Sissy, his sister, enters his life. She is a trigger for a history of abuse and Brandon will do anything to escape his past.

Two tortured souls

Oversexualization is one of his escapes. And sexual abuse often manifests itself in sexual acting out. No film character in recent history has acted out so graphically through sex than Brandon. His inability to express himself on a simple date verbally is also a sign that something painful lingers within this character. Intimacy problems seem the most sure sign of sexual abuse. Brandon is simply unable to become vulnerable, nor is he able to express himself outside of the sex act. When Sissy enters the film, the abuse is obvious. She is also a victim. She tries to ease her own suffering through similar shallow sexual encounters. Her desires even turn to her brother and the underlining message in the film is: sex in families is okay.

But incest is not alright with Brandon and he intuitively knows this. He tries to confront that truth inside and it is Sissy's presence that helps him achieve his goal. He cannot hide from the truth when it is staring at him and screaming at him everyday. Brandon tries to play it straight by disposing of his huge pornography collection, but the final scene only hints at his recovery. This film critic will be optimistic and see a former sex addict in Brandon as he suppresses his sexual urges in the presence of a married and flirtatious subway passenger. This final scene bookends the picture with a similar scene beginning the film (the initial scene is more desperate).

Recovery from such an addiction is likely not an on/off switch. However, the film's ability to deliver a message strongly is made through the many scenes of sexuality and a little less so through the music. Both the emotive scenes and soundtrack create for a very disheartening dramatic thriller. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, but the difficult subject matter makes Shame a trying watch. If one delves into a sex addict's sexual depravity, then prepare to see the seedier side of sexuality. It is here where there are no limits on sex and it is here where some characters almost self-destruct.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (great writing, strong characters, believable portrayals of theme, consistent).

*released on Blu-Ray April 17th.

*there are approximately 10 minutes of extras including: "The Story of Shame," "A Shared Vision," "Focus on Michael Fassbender," and an expose with director Steve McQueen.

A second review of this title is available at Film Festival Today:

Shame Reviewed at Film Festival Today (Victoria Alexander)

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Posted in: 2012,2012 release,drama,dramatic thriller,Michael Fassbender,movie review