Brilliant acting defined by one look

Brilliant Brittani of Rambling Film had this fabulous idea for a post and then Ruth of flixchatter followed up with her own awesome list. I love that they wrote posts on that - for me the most amazing thing an actor can do is make us see real emotions - disappear into character's state of mind, state of heart, state of soul. While it would probably be impossible for an actor to show this kind of authenticity through entire performance, the best of them can do that in brief moments, just in one look.

Visual Parallels: Black Swan + Shame

Visual parallels is something I came up during watching films and noticing very similar shots or events in two different movies. with "Black Swan" and "Shame" their respective protagonists - Nina and Brandon - often find themselves in the very similar locations, situations and at times the shots looks almost identical. Not only are these two people struggling with their inner demons but for some reasons the directors of both movies - Daren Aronofsky and Steve McQueen used very similar places and techniques to show their characters' anguish. We have them looking with admiration and fascination and hidden sadness at someone their admire, we watch them in the subway many times in the movie and we go to hell with them - when they are surrounded by their obsessions, demons and weakness, bathed in red light of the underworld.

Shame

97/100 (2011, 101 min)
Plot: In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Sissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: Abi Morgan (screenplay), Steve McQueen (screenplay)
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale

“Life is loneliness, despite all the opiates, despite the shrill tinsel gaiety of "parties" with no purpose, despite the false grinning faces we all wear. And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter - they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfillment and companionship - but the loneliness of the soul in its appalling self-consciousness is horrible and overpowering.”

― Sylvia Plath

When I love the movie I usually review it right away. But with "Shame" which is one of the very few movies I give the highest rating to, I just couldn't. I knew I won't be able to review it properly after one viewing and I knew I needed time to see it again. So now that is out on DVD I could finally gather strength to watch the film again and I'm finally able to properly write about it. Because "Shame" is one of the heaviest and emotionally draining films I've ever seen. For me to cry during a movie I need to feel connected to the character or at least be incredibly moved by the story. With Steve McQueen's films "Hunger" and now "Shame" it's difficult to feel the connection - both Bobby Sands and Brandon aren't the kind of characters you can easily relate to. Yet I couldn't hold back tears during "Hunger" and for the last 20 minutes of "Shame" I basically wept uncontrollably.

Soundtrack Wednesday - Shame

Song: Brandon
Artist: Harry Escott
Movie: Shame

Movie Poster Appreciation

Shame official poster

Black Swan by Vincent Gabriele

Just a random thing...

...that haunts me.

First trailer for Steve McQueen's Shame

I waited for "Shame" ever since I read the script, the trailer is so amazing it makes me even more eager to see it. Last time I was that hyped to see a movie was last year with "Black Swan" and seeing how much I enjoyed Steve McQueen's directorial debut "Hunger" and how much I love Michael Fassbender I'm sure "Shame" will not disappoint. There are very few good trailers that were released this year and this one is among them, it includes mesmerizing original score for the film.