James Franco criticises Michael Fassbender's Shame

Steve McQueen's stark portrayal of sex addiction in 2011's Shame shocked many an audience.

But James Franco wasn't among of them.

[Gosling and Franco for Salinger?]

In a piece for Vice published earlier this month, the actor posited that Michael Fassbender's character Brandon "wasn’t such an addict".

"I mean, what did he do?," the actor continued. "Watch porn and screw a handful of people a week? I could point to quite a few folks who do that."

Franco went on to criticise the portrayal of New York's gay scene in the film, likening it to decade old cliches.

He added: "That scene where he’s at his lowest point and wants to f**k and goes into a gay club, and it’s depicted like the seventh level of hell...

"I mean, it goes back to the horrible representations of gays in the 70s, where the gay club is meant to signify everything dark and depraved. Then the guy gets a minor b**wjob, from, Oh no, a man! The horror!"

[James Franco supports Batfleck]

But despite his criticism, Franco's piece also heaped praise upon the pair's most recent collaboration, 12 Years A Slave, enthusing about the beauty of the movie as well as Fassbender's performance, saying: "This is Fassbender's film," and adding: "I love this film. I’m beguiled by it."

Franco recently mocked speculation over his sexuality by posting a collage on Instagram featuring him kissing and holding hands with an unknown man.