review by Ryan
Shame 2011
Watched May 19, 2012
Ryan’s review:
Another fantastic film from Steve McQueen starring Michael Fassbender. Both give the best effort of their careers in this compelling, well-told character study.
McQueen, in particular, shows much more restraint than in his debut film, Hunger, and feels generally more comfortable with the cinematic medium than before. I can only imagine the great films he will give to us in the future.
This may be a little soon, but I believe we'd be calling McQueen and Fassbender one of the best director-actor teams in years to come. I'd already put them up there with De Niro and Scorsese.
I'd say this is as good as anything those two have ever done together. If anything comes close, it's Taxi Driver.
Raging Bull was well-made, but features some of the most unlikable characters ever put to screen and no plot to speak of, and that makes it difficult for me to enjoy beyond the great production values.
Finally! Someone else who doesn't think Raging Bull is a masterpiece! Completely agree about McQueen/Fassbender. Hopefully we will such much more from them.
I thought Shame was good but Carey Mulligan stole the show... Not that I'm saying The Fass was poor, I just think it was built up as a film too much and gave little in return for me... Still a quality film though!
Raging Bull, like Goodfellas, is a technical masterpiece. The story and characters, however...not so much.
I was completely surprised by Carey Mulligan. I have only seen her in Drive and Brothers, so I expected a more reserved character, but that was not the case at all. She was superb. In fact, everything about this movie is of the highest quality. Just all around excellent film-making.
I'd seen her in An Education which is what kind of announced her as a great actress and Never Let Me Go, so I knew that she'd be good, but she did really knock the ball out of the park. Especially that scene on the couch.
I bumped the rating up to A+. The more I think and learn about this film, the more I realize just how perfect everything about it is. There are no weak spots at all.
I agree that the Fassbender/McQueen pairing is comparable to the De Niro /Scorsese pairing. I hope we have many more films from thse two. I liked Shame even more than Hunger.
Their next one 'Twelve Years a Slave' looks quite interesting as well, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Brad Pitt.
Loved this film and Hunger. Really can't wait for his next films. I really want to see how he grows as a filmmaker.