Shame, meanwhile, is an absolutely fantastic film. The second directorial effort of artist Steve McQueen following IRA prison drama Hunger and prior to the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave saw him again teaming with Michael Fassbender, who leads this character piece about a young professional in New York City who struggles to contain his burgeoning sex addiction, his compulsions dragging him on a downward spiral. Carey Mulligan showing up as his sister Sissy, who has her own issues, doesn't really help matters. You'd think a movie with plenty of explicit sex involving one of the hottest actors working right now would be a slam dunk of a Valentine's Film for some, but the scenes are never, ever arousing. They're grimy, dark, utilitarian. And a bit gross. Sad ending, too. Post-viewing relationship status: No sex for a month. Unless one of you is Michael Fassbender.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
