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Shame

  • 20112011
  • NC-17NC-17
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
193K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,294
169
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Shame (2011)
Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Cissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
Play trailer1:34
9 Videos
83 Photos
  • Drama

A sex addict's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.A sex addict's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.A sex addict's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
193K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,294
169
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • Steve McQueen
    • Abi Morgan
    • Harold Manning(french adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Michael Fassbender
    • Carey Mulligan
    • James Badge Dale
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • Steve McQueen
    • Abi Morgan
    • Harold Manning(french adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Michael Fassbender
    • Carey Mulligan
    • James Badge Dale
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 481User reviews
    • 490Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 50 wins & 94 nominations total

    Videos9

    No. 2
    Trailer 1:34
    No. 2
    U.S. Version
    Trailer 1:52
    U.S. Version
    International Version
    Trailer 1:44
    International Version
    A Guide to the Films of Steve McQueen
    Clip 2:08
    A Guide to the Films of Steve McQueen
    "Sidewalk Conversation"
    Clip 2:58
    "Sidewalk Conversation"
    The Rise of Carey Mulligan
    Clip 3:54
    The Rise of Carey Mulligan
    "A Shared Vision"
    Featurette 2:34
    "A Shared Vision"
    Shame
    Interview 0:46
    Shame
    Shame
    Interview 0:36
    Shame

    Photos83

    James Badge Dale, Michael Fassbender, and Carey Mulligan in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender and Nicole Beharie in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, and Steve McQueen in Shame (2011)
    James Badge Dale and Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Carey Mulligan in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)
    Michael Fassbender and Nicole Beharie in Shame (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Fassbender
    Michael Fassbender
    • Brandonas Brandon
    Carey Mulligan
    Carey Mulligan
    • Sissyas Sissy
    James Badge Dale
    James Badge Dale
    • Davidas David
    Lucy Walters
    Lucy Walters
    • Woman on Subway Trainas Woman on Subway Train
    Mari-Ange Ramirez
    • Alexaas Alexa
    Nicole Beharie
    Nicole Beharie
    • Marianneas Marianne
    Alex Manette
    Alex Manette
    • Stevenas Steven
    Hannah Ware
    Hannah Ware
    • Samanthaas Samantha
    Elizabeth Masucci
    Elizabeth Masucci
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    Rachel Farrar
    Rachel Farrar
    • Rachelas Rachel
    Loren Omer
    • Lorenas Loren
    Lauren Tyrrell
    • Hostessas Hostess
    Marta Milans
    Marta Milans
    • Cocktail Waitressas Cocktail Waitress
    Jake Siciliano
    Jake Siciliano
    • Skype Sonas Skype Son
    Robert Montano
    Robert Montano
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Charisse Bellante
    • Live Chat Womanas Live Chat Woman
    • (as Charisse Merman)
    Amy Hargreaves
    Amy Hargreaves
    • Hotel Loveras Hotel Lover
    Anna Rose Hopkins
    Anna Rose Hopkins
    • Carlyas Carly
    • Director
      • Steve McQueen
    • Writers
      • Steve McQueen
      • Abi Morgan
      • Harold Manning(french adaptation)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Momentum Pictures
    • sex addict
    • sex addiction
    • female nudity
    • masturbating in a shower
    • brother sister relationship
    • 52 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first time Michael Fassbender saw the film was with his father Josef. Both were relieved that his mother Adele could not make the screening.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

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

    • Crazy credits
      No opening credits apart from the movie's title.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Venice Film Festival 2011 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Aria from the Goldberg Variations
      Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performed by Glenn Gould

      Courtesy of Sony Masterworks and the Glenn Gould Estate

      Licensed by Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd

    User reviews481

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Addiction up close and personal
    Shame, the real feel bad movie of the year, is only McQueen's second feature film to date. His first film, Hunger, focused on a man who made his life very public when he went on a hunger strike during the 1981 Irish Hunger Strikes. In Shame, McQueen dissects the very personal and often shocking sexual addiction of Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender). Brandon is a well off business man. He has an apartment in New York where he leads a seemingly good life, but hides a dark secret that is on the verge of destroying him. His sex addiction has gone out of control. To make this even more difficult, his sister drops in unexpected and crashes at his place (played by Carey Mulligan). Her lifestyle begins to interfere with his addiction, forcing him to take drastic measures.

    Every waking moment is spent towards achieving one goal: orgasm. We see him smile, laugh, engage socially, but when he is alone he is focused, like a junkie going through the routine of drug addiction. Brandon's tools aren't lighters, spoons, and rubber ties. He uses prostitutes, Internet pornography, magazines, or his imagination. Even at work his mind wanders off, either at a passing coworker or something he has looked up on his computer. This is far from a private matter. His addiction is slipping into the open and he knows it. We assume he is aware of his problem. At the beginning of the film we see Brandon lying naked in bed, the sheet pulled over his private area. He lies motionless, only staring at the ceiling above, breathing in and out as if he knows that today is going to be a long day. We know he's not thinking about work. He has one thing and one thing only. Sex.

    Most people associate sex with pleasure. I'm sure Brandon has at one time or another had a pleasurable experience during intercourse, but he is long past that stage. During a scene on the subway he spots a woman. She's an attractive woman. She's alone. Vulnerable. She eyes Brandon staring back at her. The two have chemistry. In silence they are mentally engaging each other. His stare never wavers, he just scans her up and down. Suddenly her face changes. She gets up, showing the audience her wedding band. We can feel her shame for flirting with Brandon. He gets up and stands behind her. He follows her out of the train only to lose her in the crowd. His disappointment isn't so much in relation to not getting to know her, but that he will have to continue his search for sex elsewhere.

    Brandon is a tragic character. His only connection with people is linked with sex. How will this person help or interfere with me reaching my goal of orgasm? Brandon's limit's knows no bounds. Fassbender, who also appeared in McQueen's Hunger, gives a fascinating performance. It is fearless both in the sense that it is a physically challenging role and that he accomplishes the role with such honesty. He could have played it like some debonair businessman just looking to score. Fassbender knows that his character is truly disturbed. He knows that if people found out about his condition he would be ostracized. He also knows that he needs help and won't get it. All of these factors come into play and create an incredible performance. Much like Gosling pulled off in Drive, Fassbender uses his eyes and body language to express how he feels.

    Pain is a word often associated with addiction. We see videos of addicts going through withdrawals in health class. They kick, scream, shake, vomit. Evidence of a sickness in the body. Fassbender's character also shows great pain and uneasiness. During times of sheer euphoria, at least for a normal person, Fassbender gives us pain and suffering. He can't help what he's doing but he needs it to stay normal.

    Along with Fassbender is Mulligan, another one of today's rising stars. Her character is rebellious, dependent, and loving. She wants nothing more than to find someone to care for her and to spend time with her brother. Her brother is too involved with his addiction and her taste in men and willingness to fall in love with them brings her down even more. She plays a girl on the edge of a breakdown and really shines on screen. Like Fassbender, she gives her all for the role, exposing her true colors.

    In just two films McQueen has established himself as a major player in the art house scene. Both films are festival favorites with critical praise, but the general public isn't ready for his heavy storytelling. With hope (and some financial backing) he will continue to make the films he wants to make and hopefully garner enough praise here in the states to win over more of the public. It's going to be hard if he keeps getting NC-17 ratings.
    helpful•369
    83
    • moviemanMA
    • Jan 15, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 13, 2012 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shame - Deseos culpables
    • Filming locations
      • 28th Street Subway Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Film4
      • UK Film Council
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,909,002
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $361,000
      • Dec 4, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,123,767
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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