Shame

I would say that climax occurs when something breaks. And while Shame did not lack for climaces, I was not entirely sure what it was that was breaking in the movie. The performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan were, of course, amazing--emotional, dynamic, and deeply moving. But it was difficult to tell what lay behind the performances: what thoughts and feelings were the characters accessing? Why were they crying, yelling, and screwing, screwing, screwing?

Shame stars Michael Fassbender as sex-addicted Brandon, a man whose manic pursuit of sexual pleasure somehow manages not to interfere with his job or his workout or his basic functionality. It is nonetheless an addiction, and he begins to realize the danger of his obsession when his sister, Cissy, comes to stay with him. They then proceed to clash several times, and we learn that at the heart of that conflict lies a fundamental difference of opinion about the duties of family.

Unfortunately, the film's greatest weakness is its inability to articulate the sources of the many emotional scenes so brilliantly executed by the lead actor. I knew, of course, that Shame would be a perfect vehicle for Fassbender, with his history of unfaltering performances as good people who do bad things. But this film is unclear about whether or not what he is doing is bad. While it becomes clear that he is no longer satisfied by his addiction--that he is wasting himself and any chance he has for emotional intimacy by futile pursuit of physical indulgence--the audience never really knows what Brandon is thinking. Despite the exacting displays of emotion, we have no way of knowing what fuels his torment.

I cannot honestly discuss this film without addressing the NC-17 rating. Do not expect nudity, sex scenes, or explicit content in the usual sense. Expect instead to be confronted very directly with an unrelenting view of the most intimate moments in these characters' lives--both physical and emotional. Fassbender bares body and soul for the camera, and the performance is as aggressive as it is moving. The film demands your empathy.

Overall, the film runs on great performances and invasive staging. It is difficult to watch and impossible to ignore. A few scenes between Fassbender and Mulligan spark with the intense dynamism of two masters in harmonious collaboration. Poignant, primal, and direct, Shame is a must-see for anyone who has ever buckled under the sheer burden of being human. Although the film is vague as to its source rupture, there is pleasure nonetheless in watching the lead actors at the pinnacle of their semi-nascent careers--brilliant in climax, with many more to come.