On DVD: HUNGER (Steve McQueen, 2008)

Wow. That was basically the first thing I said to myself after this little gem of a movie ended its beautiful last frame. I had been wanting to see this movie for a while, having heard of Michael Fassbender's portrayal of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands being nothing short of astonishing, but when I saw it, I was not only blown away by Fassbender but the entire movie itself. It was the way it was shot and directed that just through me for a loop.

I was on a roll with good movies lately, having just seen Black Dynamite right before this (that movie is reviewed below CHECK IT OUT). And right off the bat, right when the first shot appears and it's that atmospheric sound that just echoes, I knew this movie was something special. It's just one 'a those flicks, nah sayin'?

But what is it about you ask? It's the true story about the final weeks of Bobby Sands, The Irish IRA fighter who's been in prison for a while, and decides to start a hunger strike in prison as protest for the crimes done to Northern Ireland. While that compensates for most of the story, the film also follows some other IRA prisoners and a prison guard who goes about his day in there.

The film is very beautifully shot. The director, Steve McQueen (no, not Bullitt), was an artist beforehand, and you can tell very well that he was, since the shots are so carefully composed and angled. It's a perfect pairing with the remarkable work that Michael Fassbender does here. In playing Sands, the already fairly built Fassbender lost so much weight here it's practically sickening. Believe me, it made me HUNGRY. And then as I was eating a three-course meal it made me sad to think Bobby Sands would never do this, so I dedicated the meal to Sands and it made me feel better. Whatevs.

Also, there is VERY LITTLE dialogue in this film, something that I enjoyed very much. You honestly don't need dialogue to tell a story, and this movie understood that. And when there is a dialogue scene, it lasted for at least 20 minutes and 15 of those minutes was ONE SHOT. AWESOME!

BOTTOM LINE: While I personally loved the shit outta this flick, the general audience might find it slow, but it is well worth your time due to Fassbender and the beautiful photography. Cinephiles, SEE THIS NOOOOWWWW.