A few years ago, director Steve McQueen (no, not that Steve McQueen – unless the Bullitt star was resurrected as a black British filmmaker) and every man’s man-crush, actor Michael Fassbender, teamed up to make the film Hunger, about imprisoned IRA member Bobby Sands and the 1981 hunger strike he led. The film turned out to be amazing, with the difficult material made more palatable by Fassbender’s hypnotizing lead performance.
Now, the two friends have collaborated on a different kind of story with the film Shame. While Hunger‘s lead character suppressed his appetite, Shame sees its indulge his. I’m sure you can tell by the trailer below, though (check it out in HD here), that Shame deals with an entirely different kind of appetite.
The film has been slapped with an NC-17 rating, but that’s not stopping Fox Searchlight from pulling out all the stops in its quest to see Shame (aka Michael Fassbender Bangs Every Chick in New York City) grab some awards nods come Oscar time. I don’t believe director McQueen even attempted to have the rating repealed – which shows an impressive commitment to vision.
Will Shame be the first NC-17 nominated film in some time? Or will the rating’s smutty reputation kill both its box office AND awards chances? Audiences will find out when the movie hits theaters in limited release December 2, with an expansion coming early next year.
By the way – if you’re unfamiliar with Michael Fassbender, remedy that with a viewing of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, where he turns in one of my favorite all time performances as British movie critic turned spy Lt. Archie Hicox.
The Everything Film Show 