Shame, 2011

Shame, 2011
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale



Stage: Home theatre, late night with an aim for a good piece


Shame in short: Brandon is a 30-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister moves into his apartment, Brandon's world spirals out of control. From director Steve McQueen (Hunger), Shame is a compelling and timely examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us


Preps: It was at our "creative" theatre, a while ago, when this piece became notorious. I wanted to see it at that point, knowing the storyline, and was deeply interested. But I never made it to the movies. Anyhow, seems like a proper night to spend it on this.

Reality: Well, like McQueen's Hunger, this piece also strikes hard into one's perception of the world. Following Fassbender with his pervert actions and fantasies from the start feels like fun and is really intriguing, however with the depth of the movie (the length), you get the feeling of loneliness. Striving towards fulfilling human flesh hunger cannot replace feelings and emotions that happen in relationships. Having everything at a distance may seem like a good place to hide or a good way to avoid trouble, however, it is vividly shown, it also leads to loneliness, depression, introvertism.

Brandon is constantly trying to escape, surpresses his own feelings and own soul and lets noone near him. Only the surface you may smell, he might be thinking, every time he makes an interaction with any female. On the other hand, watching this I get a distinct impression sex is around every corner, if you want to see it. The intriguing thing is that the only time Brandon comes, is when he's paid for sex or when it happens in a way you can smell a prostitute (or a prostitute like relationship). The scene, when he cannot come hard with a woman he really likes, is really sad and makes me doubt even more if this is the way someone can really lead a life.

The only rescue path he's offered and obviously refuses, is through his own sister, the person that just walks into his perfectly set life and makes a mess out of it. He doesn't like it and almost forces her away with dogs, but she's persistant and just won't go away. Is this the way a relationship with your relatives is supposed to be or work? I believe also relatives need to deserve respect and not take anything for granted. I believe we should respect one's aim to be alone and lead a private life. However through some sane observation, one could simply state that Brandon represents a loonie, someone fit for mental institution. And to others he could be a hero. He is everything a "nomal" person isn't. Especially when it comes to pervert thinking and making it real. I doubt that a lot of people have such a distinguished collection of porn things at home.

The walk through a small part of Brandon's life keeps me sad and emphasizes the feeling of loneliness, yet alone, the feeling of wanting to hold someone and just be grateful for this. We aren't meant as some kind of sex machines or some tokens one takes just when he/she feels like having fun. Having a relationship can in my opinion bring much more satisfaction, because at that time, even sex has a different approach and meaning, and is not perceived just as a midnight sport.


My personal rating: 8,0 (sad and depressive, solid drama. A wonderful interpretation of what becomes of someone if he closes into a basket and leaves noone besides).



Shame on IMDB

Wall Street 2 - Money never sleeps, 2010

Wall Street 2 - Money never sleeps, 2010
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin


Stage: Home theatre, HD version


Wall Street in short: As the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster, a young Wall Street trader partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gordon Gekko on a two-tiered mission: To alert the financial community to the coming doom, and to find out who was responsible for the death of the young trader's mentor.
Preps: I wanted to see the sequel badly ever since the first part. It inspired me into economy and I wanted to feel the broker's thoughts while bidding, selling, buying, and feel the taste of that much money. So, in my case, pretty expected piece that I hardly waited to get my hands upon. Let's see some Wall Street action..



Reality: What is to follow after the brainwash the first part of this movie offered? Absolutely brilliantly set (with many economical mistakes - as my professors claimed at the university and afterwards tried to explain to us, eager students), gave me the inspiration to study economy. It is rare that a movie gives inspiration to a certain profession. It definitely happened for instance in Top Gun, this is another good example of having a movie inspiring people to go to be brokers or at least, economists.

Therefore, the sequel draw my attention for several reasons. And one of the most important ones - to see Douglas in action again. This piece only proves that the man is made of steal. His energy will drive you like on a rollercoaster from the beginning to the steep ending. Broker world is closed for emotions and the people getting on its bus with feelings, tend to get broken along the way. The plot is quite easy to follow, again you are faced with numerous expressions, that are only used in this broker language world and that I am sure most people cannot follow. But you get the main idea how to create a distortion and scam someone.

The cast creates a good synergy - I would put someone else in the role of his daughter. The girl seems to be crying all the time and makes me wonder whether this was made on purpose. There aren't always scenes where she would be crying, although she seems as if on drugs each time she appears.
I absolutely adore the idea to connect the protagonists from the first part (Brolin - Douglas) and I cannot switch the movie off because it progresses all along the way. No time for picnic there, I cannot just go and fetch something from the fridge, I am curious about the next part all the time. Therefore, I strongly encourage future economists or the ones that wanted to be ones, to see this piece, as it will provoke inner spirit again and make you believe in this green entity that all of us are shutting our eyes from - money, but all of us need. But as said at the beginning, broker world, a.k.a. Wall Street, is no place for mushy feelings, mushy people. No place for emotions either. Roll down your sleeves and get into the game :)





My personal rating: 8,0 (made me nostalgic about the first movie and I absolutely love this economical đibrish - talking in words noone seems to understand).

Wall Street on IMDB

An Education, 2009

An Education, 2009
Director: Lone Scherfig
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Olivia Williams, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina



Education in short: Jenny (Carey Mulligan) a very bright girl on the cusp of her 17th birthday, finds herself in a whirlwind romance with the much older David ( Peter Sarsgaard). Prior to meeting him, Jenny was working hard at secondary school to ensure getting to Oxford University. When she sees the lifestyle David can provide, one she never imagined could be hers, she's hooked and thoughts of Oxford are forgotten.

Stage: home theatre
Preps: None in perticular. Came in the row, wasn't recommended or something, just a thing on my disk from last year that I needed to see :)


Reality: Education has some really strong points to vote for it. It's an english movie. I just love english speaking (UK english speaking) cast. A bit naughty and lovely, the sound of it. Usually also the movies have some perspective or some dramatic scenes, some basic idea you should nourish after seeing it. This one is one alike - relatively unknown actors that come upfront with good dialogue and irony that pours out of them.

Jenny, living in a "normal" - to my standards, weird, family, is daily faced with stupidity her father pours into her. For instance, comments like "Knowing a famous author is better than becoming one. It shows you're connected.", with those, her father neglects all wishes Jenny has and fulfills his own dreams of pushing his daughter to the best university there is - Oxford. She, on the other hand, handles this with intelligence and shoots back like a rifle with witty comments and ironic/sarcastic piece of mind she posesses.

The irony breaks when this Mary Clarence (the holy child that is going to be at least world leader in her father's eyes) leaves the whole package for a man. It turns out that even her father thinks the prime goal of a young lady should be getting a husband and within this attempt, getting well situated. It doesn't matter what happens with university, education, as long as you have someone besides to offer you comfortable life without work.

Luckily enough, I got to see that milk and honey don't grow on trees. The men actually steal to get money and after that they can indulge life of beautiful restaurants, pubs, bars.. The way Jenny exposes her feelings about this to her father is simply remarkable. The director really caught some good scenes with this and some inspiring humour.

The movie also offers good music, nice yuppy-like places to visit, inspiring romance scenes and ideas.. and of course.. not to neglect.. how appropriate is an intimate relationship between a 16year-old girl and much older guy? (I never figured how old was he in the movie, but at least around 35 (with a wife and a kid that looked at least 7 years old) - The movie I think never touches this dilemma - or at least puts it aside, with some small scenes the parents have at the beginning. However, for me it was the thing I expected to be adressed at the movie at some point, unfortunately, I was dissappointed.




My personal rating: 6,0 (interesting in some aspects and very powerful in some scenes, however it might imply somehow corrupted message (give up education and you give up life.. and if you bring all back, you should consider yourself lucky if the system accepts you). But see it. It's different :)


IMDB for Education
Education official site