When your first collaborative effort result in a film as powerful and critically beloved as 2008's Hunger, then you have to expect the follow-up to hyped to the friggin' moon. But I certainly didn't expect the tidal wave of glowing reviews we've seen for Shame, from director Steve McQueen and starring Michael Fassbender.
The film centers on a successful New York businessman named Brandon, whose life consists of trying to manage his sexual addictions. However, when his troubled sister(Carey Mulligan) shows up, it throws his world into total disarray, and Brandon's demons begin to consume everything. Fassbender and Mulligan look to be at the top of their game here, and based on everything I've heard both could be in line for some awards consideration. It's long overdue for Fassbender(should've won for Hunger!!), and par for the course for Mulligan.
But will the film be too risque for the Academy? Will American audiences even be able to seek out a film like this? There's apparently quite a bit of very graphic nudity and sexual content, which tends to make distributors nervous. It's not rated NC-17 for nothin'. We'll see what happens when Shame opens here on December 2nd. You know I'll be there. It's my favorite actor and my favorite actress, in an unconventional story that's bound to rub some folks the wrong way. Bring it. Check out the first trailer for it below....
