Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2012

Rarely has a film contained so many sex scenes without conveying the slightest trace of eroticism. For this is an examination of sex addiction. Scoff you might, but the disorder can be every bit as debilitating and life-destroying as drugs or drink. Call it a Days of Wine and Roses for those to whom orgasm is a necessity rather than a pleasure. The joylessness of sex, if you will. There’s not a lot of depth to this grim character study, which is suitable given the shallowness of the main character. Nor is there much of a plot or dialogue for that matter, but it’s presented with remarkable clarity and power. Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) does a flawless, ferocious portrayal of the haunted central character, a Manhattan high-roller whose life is an endless hunt for the next compulsive, unsatisfying climax: a one-night stand, a call girl, a quick wank in the men’s room. He’s driven and miserable, but manages to hide his condition until the arrival of his fragile, needy sister (Carey Mulligan) exposes his intense self-loathing, and things start falling apart. It’s harrowing and heartrending and hard to watch, but it will stay with you.