Shame (2011)

In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.

Director:

Steve McQueen

Writers:

Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan

Stars:

Michael Fassbender, Lucy Walters, James Badge Dale

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 26 wins & 52 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Fassbender	...	Brandon
Lucy Walters	...	Woman on Subway Train
Mari-Ange Ramirez	...	Alexa
James Badge Dale	...	David
Nicole Beharie	...	Marianne
Alex Manette	...	Steven
Hannah Ware	...	Samantha
Elizabeth Masucci	...	Elizabeth
Rachel Farrar	...	Rachel
Loren Omer	...	Loren
Carey Mulligan	...	Sissy
Lauren Tyrrell	...	Hostess
Marta Milans	...	Cocktail Waitress
Jake Richard Siciliano	...	Skype Son (as Jake Siciliano)
Robert Montano	...	Waiter

Storyline

Brandon is a 30-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister moves into his apartment, Brandon's world spirals out of control. Shame examines the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us.

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Plot Keywords:

new york | office | addiction | thirty something | porn | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Shame - Deseos culpables

Filming Locations:

28th Street Subway Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$349,519 (USA) (2 December 2011)

Gross:

$4,000,304 (USA) (20 April 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

See-Saw Films, Film4, UK Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the movie's $6.5 million budget, Fox Searchlight Pictures only paid around $400,000 to acquire its United States distribution rights.

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Goofs

When Brandon is on the subway looking at the woman we see Fulton behind him on the wall of the subway tunnel. The train moves and a few minutes have passed. Next, when the woman exists the train and he follows her, we see that they are again at Fulton station.

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Quotes

Sissy Sullivan: We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.

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Crazy Credits

No opening credits.

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Connections

References Gimme Shelter (1970)

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Soundtracks

"I Want Your Love"
Written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing & (c) 1978 Bernard's Other Music (BMI)
All rights on behalf of Bernard's Other Music
administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Performed by Chic
Licensed courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd

User Reviews

Fassbender and Mulligan show no "Shame"

What Director Steve McQueen and co-writer Abi Morgan achieve in the raw and powerful Shame starring breakout star of 2011 Michael Fassbender and Academy Award nominated actress Carey Mulligan is some of the most daring and provocative work seen this year. Telling the story of Brandon (Fassbender), a mid-30s successful businessman who balances his work life and his unflinching addiction to sex on a daily basis. When his free spirited and often times irresponsible sister Sissy (Mulligan) drops by unexpectedly, Brandon is faced with having his dark secret unravel in his day-to-day operations.

Headlined by tour-de-force performances by Fassbender and Mulligan, Shame wraps you from moment one, never easing its unyielding grip on us and showing the darkest parts of nature in a fresh and venturesome manner. McQueen and Morgan shape their narrative in a classic storytelling procedure that entices the viewer without ever feeling forced. They build two authentic characters that surprisingly you can relate to and find solace in. This archetype could be considered one of the best written works of 2011.

McQueen's direction is steady, precise, and full of originality. As stylistic as his direction is, his third act does lose its gravity leaving some thoughts to maneuver in and out. Two polarizing technical aspects of the film are Joe Walker's very impressive editing work, showcasing some of the most vulgar yet necessary scenes of the year. Also, though sadly brief, Harry Escott's massively transcendent score builds up to one of my favorite opening film sequences seen this millennium. So about the nudity you ask and that NC-17 rating? It's all necessary. It never feels forced or for the sake of showing a genital. It's all important and unique to the story. But rest assured, it does deliver some of the most graphic images seen (that's not pornography) on film.

Fassbender and Mulligan set the screen on fire. Fassbender dedicates himself to Brandon, showing all the beauty and ugly, and bestowing upon us, one of the finest Oscar-caliber performances of the year. He doesn't allow judgment, he becomes, he doesn't allow resurgence, he inhabits. It's one of the year's best turns by a leading man. Mulligan achieves her most raw and passionate performance to date. As Sissy, she dives in, lives, and never comes up for air. What's most impressive as oppose to her other work in Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive earlier this year and her nominated work in Lone Scherfig's An Education, is Mulligan endures and persists Sissy with tenacity and bravery. I hope Oscar can recognize greatness as it walks across their screens this year because Mulligan is the truth.

Shame delivers in not only the essence of indomitably but in unique semblance of a raw and illuminating piece of cinema. It likely will be one of the dark gems audiences and critics wish they embraced from 2011.

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