A Look Back At: 'Shame' ***stars

 so i just wrote about what seemed to be michael fassbender's valium induced role in 'a dangerous method'. but i want to give him his due and kudos for his amazing performance in 2011's psycho sexual drama 'shame'. he gives a truly daring performance in a daring film. mr fassbender plays brandon a successful new yorker in a moving intense film. he could be any new yorker you pass on the street. see on the subway. work with. you just don't know the secrets they have. the lonliness they live in. the sexual drama they deal with alone or with others. i saw a lot of myself in the character of brandon. he played me and all the other brandon's well. he gives a grand performance in a tricky art house film. he plays it unashamedly. i believed him. it's not for everyone but i can't rave enough about the film or michael's performance. and he does not mind being totally, yes totally, nude on screen which is just fine by me!

A Dangerous Method' **1/2stars

 'a dangerous method' was a dangerous choice for the talented keira knightley'. she is forced to give us in closeups some of the most bizarre facial expressions i have ever seen on screen in her role as a psychiatric patient in this also bizarre film. but alas ms knightley rises to the occasion. she is quite brilliant actually. courageous too. i wish i could say the same for the film itself. it's a tough watch to say the least. i can only recommend it to fans of ms. knightley. and i must add i do not get michael fassbender in his role. he walks though this role as though he overdosed on valium. so the **1/2 stars i give it are for keira and her performance only. she deserved a better script.

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