SHAME **½

UK: Steve McQueen, 2011

IMDB reference

A film praised by many for its unflinching look at difficult and adult themes. A dominating central performance by Michael Fassbender and assured direction from Steve McQueen. A subtle and effective score. However, despite all this SHAME left me cold and underwhelmed. It felt overlong, under-written, forced in its foregrounding of long takes, ditto male nudity and ultimately devoid of any engaging characterisations. Shame.

The Count's Verdict: Moments to admire on a technical level include long single take scenes and lingering close-ups but if your someone who prefers some investment in characters in said scenes look elsewhere.