Shame
Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) is a private man, mid 30’s, business exec, living in New York, the perfect place to disguise his sexual addiction. All seems to be working and staying compartmentalized perfectly until his sister Cissy (Carey Mulligan) comes to live with him. Cissy’s invasion into Brandon’s lair is like a spotlight burning bright, exposing and exploring the many levels of shame we as humans carry surrounding sexuality.
Powerhouse performances from both Fassbender and Mulligan smell of Oscar nods and Director Steve McQueen’s stylized use of long drawn out static shots forces the viewer to soak in the subtleties on many levels. Challenging material to navigate and give real feeling to, but there it is, with success, and with scenes and concepts that will stay with you and linger longer. Not an easy watch, but fascinating all the while, Shame is rated NC-17.