Shame is the second feature film from award winning director Steve McQueen. The movie is another collaboration with Michael Fassbender, who once again puts in an incredible performance in the leading role.

He plays Brandon, a 30 something year old successful business man, who from the outside appears to lead a charmed life, living in a salubrious Manhattan apartment whilst socializing and flirting his way through swanky bars and nightclubs with his suave, smooth-talking, Martini-guzzling business buddies. Behind closed doors, however, he is living a secret life, suffering from a sex addiction.

This leads to him surrounding himself with copious amounts of pornography, prostitutes and a succession of meaningless sexual encounters with strangers to satisfy his irrepressible urges. Brandon’s concealment of his double life is put into jeopardy with the unannounced arrival of his estranged sister, Sissy, brilliantly played by Carey Mulligan. 

Sissy has arrived for an indefinite stay with Brandon in order to seek solace after her recently broken down relationship, which has left her feeling deeply upset and hopelessly lonely. Brandon is indifferent towards Sissy, as he is occupied trying to fight his own relentless demons, which have been accentuated by her arrival.

This makes their already complex relationship even more hostile, and results in Brandon reassessing his lifestyle and coming to the conclusion that he can’t go on as he has been. McQueen again proves that he is unafraid to deal with intensely dark and disturbing subject matter by going where many mainstream directors would fear to tread.

He delves into unsettling situations which leave audiences startled and yet glued to the screen. He succeeds in getting fantastic performances from the ever capable Fassbender and Mulligan, which bring this high powered drama to life with riveting results. Shame succeeds in being a powerful, mesmerizing and provocative movie. Recommended: 8/10 
 

Paul Ruttledge

Shame is out on January 13th. Check out the trailer!