Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a successful businessman in his 30's living in New York. To most of the people around him, Brandon appears calm and confident, but inside his home he wrestles with a powerful demon. Addiction. He is obsessed with pornography (even views it at work) and only desires to engage in short-term relationships with women that allow him to keep the world at arm's length. The grim routine of Brandon's life is upset when his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) stops by for an extended visit without notice. Brandon and Sissy, although close, are polar opposites. Where Brandon is reserved and introverted, Sissy is outgoing and flashy. As Sissy forces her brother to look closely at his current situation and confront his past, he comes to understand the circumstances that made him the man he has become and his seemingly unbreakable cover of calm begins to crack.
Michael Fassbender is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors with each performance I see. This film just put the man on a list of actors to watch. Take for instance the scene in which Brandon, while walking on a pier, comes to the realization that he cannot overcome his addiction and in a rare moment breaks down and releases his suppressed emotions. This scene is played with such heartbreaking realism that we feel the need to root for Brandon where earlier in the film we might find him predatory, abusive and overall unlikeable. Fassbender's ability to play that unlikeable man who we find ourselves hoping the best for is nothing short of extraordinary.
The film is directed by Steve McQueen (no, not that one) and there's several decisions he made in the filming that need to be mentioned. Many of the scenes feature very long shots. I'm a big fan of very few cuts. What's so great about long shots you might wonder? The most important thing is this allows us to see everything that is happening. When a director includes too many cuts I am reminded that I am watching a movie. With Shame the phrase "fly on the wall" comes to mind. Everything that happens, including a very uncomfortable scene between Sissy and Brandon, unfolds for us in long takes. This technique only further shows the talent of the film's lead actor.
With regards to the sex scenes, McQueen takes an approach that I am a firm believer in. A sex scene in a film should be sensual in nature and not sexual. The film features one such scene in particular. Brandon goes to the apartment of two women and sleeps with them both. While watching this scene I am reminded of The English Patient's love scenes.
A brilliantly worded script by McQueen and fully-fleshed out competent performance by Fassbender recommend multiple viewings.
★★★★
