Shame (2011)
January 21, 2015 3:17 PM - Subscribe
In New York City, a man's (Michael Fassbender) carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister (Carey Mulligan) arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay. Directed by Steve McQueen.
Agreed on all counts! I hope Steve McQueen and Michael Fassbender have a long working relationship together indeed.
I appreciated Roger Ebert's odd take on why Fassbender did not receive the Oscar nomination he no doubt so clearly deserved for playing Brandon: "As best actor, I would have preferred seeing Ryan Gosling from "Drive" or Michael Fassbender from "Shame." ... I think it goes without saying that Fassbender, playing a tortured, joyless, addicted masturbator, would not be nominated. To some degree, less perhaps in recent years, the Academy seems afraid the public will confuse the behavior of nominated characters with their own characters. They don't want to be seen as sympathizing with masturbators."
posted by hush at 4:28 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I appreciated Roger Ebert's odd take on why Fassbender did not receive the Oscar nomination he no doubt so clearly deserved for playing Brandon: "As best actor, I would have preferred seeing Ryan Gosling from "Drive" or Michael Fassbender from "Shame." ... I think it goes without saying that Fassbender, playing a tortured, joyless, addicted masturbator, would not be nominated. To some degree, less perhaps in recent years, the Academy seems afraid the public will confuse the behavior of nominated characters with their own characters. They don't want to be seen as sympathizing with masturbators."
posted by hush at 4:28 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I saw this when it came out, with a friend. When it was over we both turned to each other and pretty much simultaneously said "fuck, I need a drink after that." It's an extremely powerful and soul-shuddering film.
posted by dnash at 8:16 AM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dnash at 8:16 AM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think about this film at least once a week. It's riveted to certain parts of my brain, for the best. It was well said here by Glenn Kerry: "While the more self-conscious touches of Shame may grate or confuse, its actual depictions of destructive, can’t-stop/won’t-stop behavior are acutely and messily accurate."
posted by Gin and Broadband at 4:38 PM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Gin and Broadband at 4:38 PM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
A really well made movie. And I watched it to the end.
But I did make me wonder "why did people go to all the trouble of making a movie to tell this story". I guess I don't see the point.
posted by jouke at 8:45 AM on June 29, 2019
But I did make me wonder "why did people go to all the trouble of making a movie to tell this story". I guess I don't see the point.
posted by jouke at 8:45 AM on June 29, 2019
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Steve McQueen and Fassbender do some fantastically deep and interesting work together.
posted by conradjones at 9:00 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]