not for kids
Powerful drama about sex addiction is NOT for kids.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the NC-17-rated Shame is all about sex addiction, and the movie is filled with nudity, destructive sexual behavior, strong simulated sex scenes, and innuendo. Some of the sex scenes play out a big roughly; there's also violence in the form of a bar fight (not entirely shown) and a bloody suicide attempt. Expect pretty frequent swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t"), plenty of drinking, and one scene in which the main character snorts cocaine.
- Families can talk about the movie's sexual content. What is sex addiction? Can it be treated? What are the real-life consequences of this kind of problem?
- Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding relationships and sex, particularly when it comes to staying safe.
- Where and how does the title Shame come into play?
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The good stuff
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Messages: The movie is mainly about sexual addiction and stays intently focused on that particular world. Although the main character begins to realize that he has a problem and takes baby steps toward solving it, the ending remains ambiguous.
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Role models: The main character has a sexual addiction. As a result, he acts selfishly and treats others without care or respect. He does seem to realize that he has a problem, but he doesn't ask for help.
What to watch for
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Violence: A character attempts suicide and is seen covered in blood. The main character gets into a fistfight in a bar after trying to pick up someone else's girlfriend. The fight itself isn't really shown, but the character's face is bloodied afterward.
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Sex: Both male and female full-frontal nudity. Several graphic sex scenes, with thrusting, sound effects, and nudity, though much of the actual sex occurs off-screen and is mainly suggested. Some of the sex scenes play out roughly and with a kind of simmering anger. The main character has several partners, including prostitutes, women he picks up, and a man in a gay sex club. He watches porn on his computer (pornographic images are briefly shown) and compulsively masturbates. A secondary, married character cheats on his wife. Very strong sexual innuendo.
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Language: Frequent use of strong words including "f--k," "screw," "s--t," "t-ts," "d--k," "p---y," "a--hole," "bitch," "hell," "oh my God" (as an exclamation), and more.
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Consumerism: Characters are seen drinking Red Bull more than once. A container of Trader Joe's orange juice is visible.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters seem to drink just about every night in bars, restaurants, and at home. The main character enjoys martinis, wine, and beer. Only the secondary characters appear to get drunk. The main character snorts cocaine in one scene.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
Shame by TSelz
Watching someone who is completely shut down emotionally is like watching paint dry. Very slow and boring, with a couple of good shots. Overall, not worth the time or money.
5
A Masterpiece (and Incredibly Unsexy) by Rendezvous
I really pity the viewers who came to Shame looking for a sexy movie (Fassbender? Sex addict? Sounds hot!) because dear lord it was brilliant in how incredibly unsexy it was.
This isn't a run of the mill action movie plot: "A" is what caused "B" to happen and "C" is how "B" is solved! Happy ending!
Nope. The lead character is a sex addict and it doesn't matter how he got to that point because this is his life and he is a monster: a creature of pure sensation and it's tearing him apart.
McQueen isn't going to hand you a tidy ending, either because, in truth, that's not how the world works. It's open ended and, by the end it's very possible that Brandon has literally gone nowhere though you're left shaking in your seat.
This isn't a easy film and, if you're not into thinking, skip this one. It's raw, it's grotesque, it's grueling, and it's painful. It's unsettling. You're all at once disgusted by and sorry for Brandon. Fassbender's performance is nothing short of awe inspiring
4
Shame by Tom Brosnan
It deff earned/deserved the NC-17 rating alot of heavy sexual content. With that said there was nothing erotic about it was filmed in such a way to show that there is something not gross about the protagonists sexual desires and actions but wrong/off. This worked well in getting the messege with the issue of sex obsession. Id say see it if your into this topic, but deff dont if heavy sexual content is not for you. Get a sitter for the kids too...
3
Shame by Westchestermoviefan
I thought at first that Shame was just an incoherent story line dressed up with beautiful bodies and undressed with ugly people. This is not a movie about sex addiction as its promotion claims. It is about narcissist who lacks empathy for all he encounters including his own sister. None of this is explained in the movie. Not what I expected from a big time director and writer. That the writer wrote Iron Lady is even more perplexing.
4
American Wet Dreaming by Jake_Gittes
The 9/11 Era ended on 9/15/08, the day Lehman Bros. filed Chap. 11 and big-time bailouts began. Shame has no pity for NYC. Manhattan serves as the backdrop for over-leveraged sex. Imagine Brandon (Michael Fassbender) working on the floor below the greedheads in Margin Call, calling the same call girls in Inside Job. It's a loveless town in which husbands put big rocks on the hands of their wives and wallow in the city-sex while raising their children in the suburbs hermetically via skype, the same technology used to buy safe sex. As good as Fassbender is (McQueen has given him close-ups that rival what Bergman gave his actors), it is Carey Mulligan's singing of "New York, New York," that rips the national facade of success off the icon. Brandon & Sissy emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland for this, the shame of "success"? While the cinematography often sustains realism shooting scenes w/o cuts, there is also a dynamic scene sequence. No bottom, Just stumble subway to penthouse & back.
3
Shame by carlos4179
Are we supposed to enjoy ourselves in the hot sexy scenes, or are we supposed to be ashamed?
As for film craft, some very interesting scenes. I like the dinner scene where they try to have a nice date. It is one long shot.
Carrie Mulligan: She's always great. Loved her in "Drive". She has the female lead in new version of "The Great Gatsby" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Past versions of the Great Gatsby have failed because we did not feel why Gatsby was going so far for his beloved Daisy. But if anyone can pull this off, it is Carrie Mulligan.
She is the woman men could fall in love with.
In "Shame" she plays an sometimes unattractive character and does it well. She usually plays a classy fine woman. In Shame she's a **** with a heart.
4
Shame by Movies Through The Years
Not a film for everyone, but for those who love brilliant performances, you will not be unhappy. Michael Fastbinder gives a brilliant performance and if he isn't nominated for an Oscar, there is no justice in the world. Carey Mulligan also gives an award winning performance.
4
Interesting.... Not for Everyone by Pixie2127
Like I said its interesting... Even though the sex addiction issue wasn't directly dealt with, it was interesting to get into the mindset. At times I did feel I was sitting in a room with stranger watching a porn, but I like what makes others feel uncomfortable. Michael fassbender was great, though I wish we could have digged deeper into that brain of his. Carey Mulligan was wonderful. If your into this kind of movie a good recommendation is The Piano teacher, great french movie with all sorts of morbid craziness.
3
shamelessly overrated by stephen450
SHAME arrived on a burst of publicity for its sexual content and daring. Unfortunately though there is plenty of adult nudity, there is no emotional warmth or sexual connection of any sort.
It is a cold look at a deeply troubled man, and set in a fairly cliched view of contemporary corporate New York. Hiring call girls for impersonal momentary pleasure, check, living alone in a sterile hi rise, check, going to bars, check, getting sex from a male stranger, check, sobbing alone in the rain on a pier on a grey morning, check. Added was a deeply troubled sister, whose bad end is telegraphed from the first scenes - check. Fassbender gives a committed performance of a man who is a cypher. If only his character had been given some depth, and you had been given a reason to care, rather than just watch a downward spiral.
I think we saw this guy before - from Bud Fox in Wall Street; Gere, Christian Bale, to Robert Downey Jr., etc. This is just the 2000's update, with frontal nudity.
3
Very Surpised... by liquiddjs
That this movie is getting good reviews. I typically like 'off the wall' types of movies and went into this with very high expectations given the reviews. Unfortunately I left extremely disappointed. I expected to see an emotional story about how someone could become a sex addict and the affect it can have on someone's life. Instead all you learn about the main character is....really nothing other than he likes to have sex and **********. There is no real story whatsoever, the scenes are way too long & make you feel uncomfortable and really serve no purpose. I mean why do we need to see a 30 second scene of him riding up an elevator OR a 10 minute rendition of his sister singing a depressing version of a song about New York. Okay I get that she's depressed and New York hasn't served her well but scenes like that just gave the movie a very monotonous feel.