'Shame' Gets NC-17 Rating From MPAA: Michael Fassbender, Steve McQueen Film Restricted

If you're excited to see director Steve McQueen's upcoming drama "Shame," you may be out of luck.

The critically acclaimed film, which stars Michael Fassbender as a spiraling sex addict and Carey Mulligan as his troubled sister visiting him in New York, has officially been given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. Filled with full frontal nudity, it wasn't much of a surprise that the film earned the rating, which limits the number of theaters in which it can be exhibited, as the nation's largest chain theaters do not show films that are limited to those 17 years of age and older.

While generally considered a blow to a film, Fox Searchlight, the distributor that recently bought the rights to "Shame," is actually bragging about the rating, using it as a tool to build buzz.

"I think NC-17 is a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter," Steve Giulia, co-head of the studio, recently told The Hollywood Reporter. "We believe it is time for the rating to become usable in a serious manner... The sheer talent of the actors and the vision of the filmmaker are extraordinary. It's not a film that everyone will take easily, but it certainly breaks through the clutter and is distinctive and original. It's a game changer."

"Shame" has certainly drawn raves, with Fassbender winning the best actor award at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. Even with the rating -- and perhaps even thanks to it -- Fassbender is expected to contend for an Oscar, too.

Last year, "Blue Valentine" was initially given an NC-17 rating, but its producers appealed, winning an R-rating for the film and increasing the number of outlets where it could be shown. Michelle Williams earned an Oscar nomination for the drama.

Comments

[dre31]

06:05 PM on 10/27/2011

I really want to see this movie. Michael Fassbender is a great actor and very attractive.

[p c r]

05:33 PM on 10/27/2011

Let me see if I understand this.
An R rating is fine when people are blown up, cut into pieces, shoot up illegal drugs or women are in the buff.
An NC-17 rating is required for showing a man in the buff.
This is so ridiculous. Simulated sex showing women's "naughty bits" is de rigour for so many films, but I am not allowed to see a penis or testicles? Just as an aside, I have seen these items in real life, and am none the worse for it.
Fixing this rating system could be the boon that theaters are looking for. I would pay hard cash to see several of today's male stars full frontal-- Alexander Skarsgard leaps to mind. Had Straw Dogs promised full frontal, I bet the profits would have soared, and the DVD sales would also.

[yogachic3]

08:00 AM on 10/28/2011

Agreed 100%!

[msmanatee]

09:11 PM on 10/29/2011

"An R rating is fine when people are blown up, cut into pieces, shoot up illegal drugs or women are in the buff".

I think that's PG these days...

[Thelma Adams]

03:28 PM on 10/27/2011

But what about Carey? She's so overshadowed by his manliness:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thelma-adams/naughty-naughty-carey-mul_b_1029625.html

[madashellvoter]

03:20 PM on 10/27/2011

I follow Michael Fassbender, he's a great actor of his generation.

[sigh-ence]

02:41 PM on 10/27/2011

HAHAHA I read this and went "Steve McQueen is still alive?! Nuh-uh..."
Had to IMDB that.

[tyrant510]

01:32 PM on 10/27/2011

living in a time where pornography and sexually explicit images (or any type of images for that matter) are readily available to anyone with access to the internet, it seems silly that a major movie theater chain would have a policy against showing NC-17 films.

[driverstest]

12:26 PM on 10/27/2011

Ah, Hollywood. Since they cannot put out a movie with substance to bring people into the movies house, instead they turn to nudity in order to bring them in. Thanks for letting us know in advance so we do not squander our hard earned dollars on a mediocre film that will be out on DVD in the bargain bin at WalMart within a few months.

[bi-poplar]

02:13 PM on 10/27/2011

WalMart doesn't sell NC-17 DVDs

[cdub1991]

05:29 PM on 10/27/2011

You sort of missed the point. Hollywood isn't making films like this, regardless of quality, since it can't get them into the multiplexes. You should be happy.

[BrainRagYell]

09:55 AM on 10/27/2011

Distribution was supposed to be the point of the NC-17 rating, separating "art" from "pornography."

Instead, moral minorities hissed and cried and turned it into a soft X.

If you don't want to see a dirty art-film ... don't!

Then cancel your Cinemax subscription.

[chiara0]

08:15 AM on 10/27/2011

Hear hear for more male frontal nudity in films!

[bigshotprof]

08:07 AM on 10/27/2011

Ah . . . "game-changer." It seems (even with the digital pages of the Huff Post) to have become the hyperbole du jour. Movie has dude parts, comes out people who want to see it see it, people who don't don't. Then something magical happens! Word breaks out that this movie somehow puts one in touch with the essence of what it means to be human in this crazy, mixed up world! Millions watch it on DVD--wondering why they were robbed of this deeply personal experience by an anachronistic ratings system. They cry as one: I have been to the mountaintop. I saw a guy's junk, and I am still just fine! The system caves, and the ratings are replaced with little emoticons that show increasing levels of disgust. you get to decide for yourself. Me? I don't go to see anything younger than ;> (creepy beard-guy winking--roughly pg-13)

Unless that happens, how has the game changed?

[ME623]

08:06 AM on 10/27/2011

These days kids have seen a lot more in school lockerrooms. Let's be real, kids that play sports or even gym class will see someone nude. It's no big deal. With the spread of modern technology, kids are sexting at 12 and can go to any porn site if their parents don't put blocks on them. Even then, the kids can probably work around it. Even though the sites say "no one under 18 or 21", all they gotta do is click "Enter" and they're in. The MPAA members are such prudes. Showgirls was only 1 shot away from being porn, but it got an R rating. There are many other movies that were "steamy", but they didn't get an NC17 rating. Anywho, if you really want to see the movie, it'll be on DVD in 6 months.

[Brandon Equality Vescovo]

03:23 PM on 10/27/2011

Showgirls was NC-17; it never got appealed down to an R. Its poor quality and box office failure is one reason the rating is avoided by studios, like it's a curse. But the rest of your post is dead-on!

[dvsinla]

06:28 AM on 10/27/2011

the ratings system is so ridiculous... like so many rules in this country that don't make sense... a serious film that is just for adults gets limited release or hurt because of some old fashioned view about the old x rating and the porn industry? it makes no sense. what if they just called it R+ or something and kept the nc 17 so theaters had something to worry about...

again... it makes so logical sense

[huffpostcom]

02:26 AM on 10/27/2011

If you got a great Bod you should flaunt it- all that time- work & pain you put into it- make somebody else Happy including yourself!

[huffpostcom]

02:23 AM on 10/27/2011

I don't know what the big deal is when celeberties & sports players pose nude! Why shouldn't they keep their fans happy & entertained- it's all part of the game! Sex is like Art! You have all these players with all these Uniforms on- take it off - Football Fantasy it's all part of the game!

[AnitaMan]

02:07 AM on 10/27/2011

bet it's soft