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Shame (2011 film)

From Alfawiki
Shame
Company typeFilm
IndustryMotion picture
Founded2011
FounderSteve McQueen (director), Abi Morgan (co-writer)
ProductsFilm

Shame is a 2011 erotic psychological drama set in New York City, directed by Steve McQueen and co-written by McQueen alongside Abi Morgan. The film stars Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan portraying adult siblings. Co-produced by Film4 and See-Saw Films, it includes explicit content depicting the main character's sexual addiction, which led to an NC-17 rating in the United States. The UK release occurred on 13 January 2012. Critical reception was largely favorable, with particular commendation for the performances of Fassbender and Mulligan, its authentic portrayal of sexual addiction, and McQueen’s direction.

Plot

Brandon Sullivan is a sex addict living in New York City, whose life revolves around frequent encounters with prostitutes, pornography, and masturbation. One morning during a subway ride, he locks eyes with a woman wearing an engagement ring; she initially returns his gaze but soon becomes uneasy and disappears into the crowd. At a nightclub, Brandon and his married superior, David, both pursue women. Subsequently, Brandon engages in sex with a woman David was also interested in, in a back alley.

Brandon has been avoiding calls from his sister, Sissy, a lounge singer who unexpectedly appears at his apartment asking to stay with him. He overhears her pleading with her lover not to abandon her. Later, Brandon and David watch Sissy perform "New York, New York" at a bar, which stirs feelings within Brandon. David flirts with Sissy and notices self-harm scars on her arms. Sissy then has sex with David in Brandon’s bedroom and later attempts to share his bed, but he rejects her.

Following a computer virus attack on Brandon’s company system, it is revealed that his hard drive contains large amounts of pornography; David suspects an intern might be responsible. Brandon goes on a date with Marianne, a recently separated colleague who is committed to relationships—contrasting sharply with Brandon’s avoidance of marriage and limited romantic history. They part ways separately after their outing.

That evening, Sissy discovers Brandon masturbating; he accuses her of spying on him. She finds his laptop open to a pornographic webcam site and leaves upset. In response, Brandon discards his pornography collection, sex toys, and laptop. At work the next day, he kisses Marianne; they proceed to a hotel room where Brandon fails to maintain an erection. Marianne leaves, and later he has rough sex with a prostitute at the same location.

Brandon informs Sissy that David has a family and asks her to leave his apartment. She insists that family members should support one another, but he calls her irresponsible and burdensome. At a bar later, he seduces a woman until her boyfriend intervenes; after being beaten by the boyfriend outside another club, Brandon takes refuge in a nearby gay bar where he receives oral sex in a backroom. While listening to Sissy’s voicemail—where she says they are not bad people but come from difficult backgrounds—he subsequently engages in a threesome with prostitutes.

On the subway home, passengers are asked to leave due to a police emergency suggesting a possible suicide. Brandon desperately calls Sissy but receives no response. Upon returning home, he finds her bleeding from wrist wounds; he stops the bleeding and calls for medical assistance. She survives, and he stays by her side in the hospital before collapsing outside in the rain.

Returning once more to the subway scene, Brandon again meets eyes with the woman wearing the engagement ring. This time she holds his gaze confidently as she prepares to exit the train; Brandon does not look away.

Development and casting

Director Steve McQueen collaborated once more with producer Iain Canning, with whom he previously worked on the 2008 film Hunger, to create Shame under their UK-Australia joint venture, See-Saw Films. The screenplay was entrusted to Abi Morgan, representing one of her two engagements with Film4.

Michael Fassbender, who starred in Hunger, was McQueen’s exclusive choice for the principal role in Shame. In December 2010, actors Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale were cast to play the protagonist’s younger sister and employer, respectively. Casting director Avy Kaufman faced the unique challenge of recruiting a cast for an NC-17-rated production, prioritizing distinguished performers even for smaller parts that required nuanced portrayals to express complex character relationships.

Filming

Principal photography began in early 2011 in New York City, with most scenes filmed in the Chelsea neighborhood. Scenes set in offices were captured at the Citigroup Center, while sequences located in hotels and nightclubs were shot at the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District. Michael Fassbender commenced filming his portions in March of that year.

Soundtrack

The film’s soundtrack was issued by Sony Classical Records on 6 December 2011, presenting a varied collection of musical pieces and performances. Spanning approximately 80 minutes, the album features compositions from Harry Escott alongside tracks by Glenn Gould, Tom Tom Club, Blondie, Chic, John Coltrane, Carey Mulligan, Chet Baker, Howlin' Wolf, among others.

  • The "New York, New York" theme was arranged and produced by Stephen Oremus, featuring piano performed by Liz Caplan.

Personnel

  • David Butterworth – orchestration (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Rolf Wilson – orchestra leader (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Nick Wollage – engineering, recording, mixing (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Pete Hutchings – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Manfred Melchior – mastering engineer
  • Ian Wood – score editor (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • Lucy Whalley – assistant orchestra contractor (tracks 1, 11, 15)
  • White Label Productions – design
  • Steve McQueen – liner notes author

Release

Shame made its debut at the main competition of the 68th Venice Film Festival, where Michael Fassbender received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. It also screened at several prominent festivals including the 36th Toronto International Film Festival, the 49th New York Film Festival, the 55th BFI London Film Festival, and the 34th Starz Denver Film Festival.

The UK theatrical release occurred on 13 January 2012 following a limited run in the United States starting on 2 December 2011. Fox Searchlight Pictures secured US distribution rights for an estimated $400,000.

US rating

The Motion Picture Association of America assigned an NC-17 rating to Shame due to "some explicit sexual content". Fox Searchlight opted not to contest this rating nor to modify the film for an R classification. Steve Gilula, president of Searchlight, remarked that "NC-17 is a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter," emphasizing their belief that this rating should be embraced seriously within the industry.

Home media

The film became available on Blu-ray and DVD formats in April 2012.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received positive feedback from 79% of critics, based on 230 reviews, with an average score of 7.5 out of 10. The site's summary states, "Featuring outstanding performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, Shame offers a compelling and intense exploration of addiction’s grip." Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it holds a rating of 72 out of 100, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."

Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the movie four stars out of four, describing it as "a potent and honest work" that is "bold and sincere," though he acknowledged its challenging nature for repeat viewings. He later ranked it as the second best film released in 2011. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter commended Fassbender’s "exceptional and fierce portrayal" in this intense examination of sexual addiction.

Dan Bullock from The Hollywood News characterized the film as "engrossing and deeply personal," emphasizing its uncompromising depiction of addiction’s psychological effects. Justin Chang writing for Variety referred to it as a "hypnotic follow-up" to McQueen’s first feature, highlighting Fassbender’s raw and powerful acting in this demanding yet empathetic drama.

Conversely, A. O. Scott of The New York Times argued that the film’s portrayal of emotional detachment felt predetermined by its premise. Donald Clarke from The Irish Times described it as "the most morally rigorous film about immorality since The Exorcist’'," although he found its moralistic tone somewhat heavy-handed.

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of MUBI criticized the film’s lack of clarity, suggesting that McQueen opted for "a superficial emptiness" instead of exploring deeper significance.

Psychiatrist Abby Seltzer praised Mulligan’s depiction of borderline personality disorder, calling the movie "a poignant and accurate representation of psychopathology," and recommended it as essential viewing for mental health professionals.

Top-ten lists

In a critics’ poll conducted by BBC Culture in 2016, the film was listed among the top 100 greatest movies made since the year 2000.

Accolades

... [Further awards follow in the same concise format] ...
Ceremony Date Awarding Body Award Category Honoree(s) Outcome
10 September 2011 Venice Film Festival Best Film – CinemAvvenire Award Iain Canning, Emile Sherman Template:Won
Best Film – FIPRESCI Prize Iain Canning, Emile Sherman Template:Won
Golden Lion for Best Film Steve McQueen Template:Nom
Volpi Cup for Best Actor Michael Fassbender Template:Won
30 November 2011 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Second Place, Best Actor Michael Fassbender
Second Place, Best Supporting Actress Carey Mulligan
1 December 2011 National Board of Review Awards Spotlight Award Michael Fassbender (Also recognized for A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, and X-Men: First Class) Template:Won
4 December 2011 British Independent Film Awards Nomination for Best British Independent Film Iain Canning, Emile Sherman Template:Nom
Nomination for Best Director Steve McQueen Template:Nom
Nomination for Best Screenplay Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan Template:Nom
Winner, Best Actor Michael Fassbender Template:Won
Nomination for Best Supporting Actress Carey Mulligan Template:Nom
Nomination for Best Technical Achievement – Editing Joe Walker Template:Nom
Nomination for Best Technical Achievement – Cinematography Sean Bobbitt Template:Nom
5 December 2011 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2011 Nomination, Best Actor Michael Fassbender Template:Nom
Nomination, Best Supporting Actress Carey Mulligan Template:Nom
11 December 2011 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Winner, Best Actor Michael Fassbender (Also acknowledged for other performances) Template:Won
12 December 2011 African-American Film Critics Association Awards Fifth Place, Best Picture Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
Winner, Best Director Steve McQueen Template:Won


External links

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