Shame (2011)

Drama

Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Lucy Walters, Mari-Ange Ramirez, James Badge Dale

"We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place."

Some describe Steve McQueen's neo-noir Shame as "that movie about the sex addict."

The film follows the personal life of Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a handsome New York professional who engages in random meaningless sexual encounters, watches a lot of porn and cannot commit to a serious relationship. One day, his troubled and emotionally needy sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) shows up unexpected at his apartment asking to stay with him for a while and her presence seems to abruptly throw his life off track.

Shame is the second of British director Steve McQueen's first three feature films, all of them collaborations with Fassbender (the others Hunger and 12 Years a Slave). Although it's one of those movies that, because of the unpleasant things it shows happening, some may find unpleasant to watch, it is an well-directed art film about a sensitive subject that creates compelling and extremely well-played characters – both Fassbender and Mulligan have received critical acclaim for their performances – and offers an effective portrayal of how sex can become a narcotic to deal with loneliness in a harsh world.

Plot summary from IMDb: 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.

Awards: Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 53 wins & 78 nominations.
Runtime: 101 min
NC-17