Shame

Steve McQueen's second film, Shame, had tremendous buzz around it even before it's world premiere in Venice back in September. Expectations were high after McQueen's brilliant first feature Hunger was so critically acclaimed. Shame had to be even better. The way the media is so concerned with the nudity scenes, you would think there was not much else to it, but there definitely is.

Brandon is a successful New Yorker with a sex addiction, content with his lonely way of life, which is disrupted when his sister comes to stay with him for a few days. Shame has no major plot points, or even much of a storyline. If you're expecting lots of things to happen, you'll be disappointed. Instead, it's more of a character study. Things aren't spelt out at all. Something happened in Brandon and Sissy's childhood that makes them how they are, but the film makes no attempt to tell you what. It's not important. You're there to observe how they're dealing with it, how they deal with each other and other people.

All the awards buzz for Michael Fassbender is well deserved. Even if you don't like the film, there's no denying his performance is outstanding. I always believe it's much easier to do the twist and dark roles in an over-the-top way, but the character is so introverted and controlled, that OTT isn't an option. Fassbender portrayal of troubled Brandon is tragic in the best possibly way. Carey Mulligan is equally good, though her role isn't nearly big enough. Many of the brother-sister moments are incredibly uncomfortable to watch, but the trio of McQueen, Fassbender and Mulligan get it so right, you can't not watch.

The hype around the sex and the nudity is almost unfair to the film, because audiences will go in expecting it. McQueen's depiction of sexual addiction really isn't about the sex at all. Shame would have easily been one of my top films of last year, had it released then, and will definitely feature in this year's list. It won't be to everyone's tastes, but Shame is one haunting, but beautiful piece of filmmaking.

Shame is on nationwide release now.