Films That Don't Suck

Earlier this week, I managed to catch Shame by Steve McQueen with Michael Fassbender. 

Shame – The exceptional duo that birthed Hunger returns with another powerful force about Sexual addiction. The film forces you into a world filled with sexual truths that mainstream American audiences shudder even speaking about. The film’s ambiguous nature and subtle emotions provides the audience with an experience left up to interpretation about man being lost in his own world. I found the film to be exquisite and beautiful, even if the subject at hand was raw and truthful—that is what made the film excellent for me. Its truth had this pull where the situation was so realistic, it makes you uncomfortable. We form a sense of recognition: either we are the characters or know others who are like the characters; it’s an aspect that force-feeds a subject we subconsciously try to ignore. Personally, I feel that speaking about the film’s details would ruin the whole cathartic experience, so I’ll keep this general.

Due to the sexual content, some audiences may consider this film borderline pornographic. I, however, feel that this film shows sex as an important element to the film than for some sort of shock factor as others may perceive. The atmosphere of the entire film was dark, bleak, and beautiful—which is excellent in exhibiting Brandon’s (Michael Fassbender) personality. The acting was absolutely perfect and top-notch, and the filmmaking is gorgeous.

Although the subject is crass, and the scenes are vulgar, all is necessary in the immersion of this real world we’ve shut out to. I often feel that the Shame is actually on the Audience’s part for us being so sensitive to the subject of sex and lust, that we’re unwilling to accepting a film that we could identify with. It’s a pity that this film was Oscar snubbed, but when you’re ready for a challenging experience, be sure to check this film out.

I rate this film 10 necessary vulgar scenes out of 10.