HUNGER — ★★★1/2 — Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham; not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, nudity, torture, gore, slurs, vulgarity, brief drugs); Broadway Centre
"Hunger" is brutal. Seriously brutal.
The film, a UK-Irish co-production, contains some of the most disturbing violent imagery and content in any film this side of one of those supposed, "torture-porn" thrillers. However, here it's done for a point, at least one that's not about sheer exploitation or done for shock effect.
And yes, that does mean that this fact-based drama is not an easy movie to watch. But those who are able to stand the assault on their senses won't be able to shake it off. If you're not left feeling a little sick or a little weary after watching this film, there's something seriously wrong with you.
The title refers to the much-publicized 1981 hunger strike by members of the Irish Republican Army as well as some sympathizers. Michael Fassbender stars as Bobby Sands, the rabble-rouser who led the strike.
First-time filmmaker Steve McQueen dramatizes some of the events that led to the hunger strike — especially horrific abuses by the guards at the so-called "Maze" prison in Northern Ireland.
Sands and the others are hoping to gain political prisoner status, which would ensure more "humane" treatment. Or at the least, they're hoping it will shed some light on what's been happening at "The Maze."
Co-screenwriter/director McQueen doesn't pull any punches here, and the film is clearly on the side of the IRA protesters and prisoners.
While that might make it too one-sided and distasteful for some, it's also skillful and riveting filmmaking.
A dialogue-heavy sequence in which Sands debates the morality of the hunger strike — as well as IRA activities — with a priest (Liam Cunningham) is very well-done.
You do have to wonder what kind of physical toll the film might have had on up-and-coming actor Fassbender (HBO's "Band of Brothers"), though. It's obvious he starved himself for his craft, though his performance certainly didn't suffer as a result of that.
"Hunger" is not rated but would probably receive an R for strong, often disturbing violent content and imagery (beatings and prison abuses), strong sexual language (profanity and crude slang terms), full male nudity, scenes depicting torture and interrogations, gore and blood, slurs based on nationality, religious beliefs and sexual orientation, some off-color humor, references and content (some of it scatological), and brief drug content (use of ointments and prescriptions). Running time: 96 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com