Shame

Shame is the first movie in the more than 20 year history of the NC-17 rating that has a chance at earning a bucketload of money at the U.S. and worldwide movie box office – we’re talking potential $50 million or more in the United States alone. Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a 30-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, Brandon’s world spirals out of control. From director Steve McQueen (a name he should have changed), Shame is an examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us. The film, a Fox Searchlight release, is being given a huge, huge, huge push for 2012 Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay.It’s high time that the majority of theater charins in the United States allow NC-17 movies to play, as the rating is a valid one from the MPAA, and deserves respect, not the ridiculous ridicule it has endured since its inception. (The fact that most newspapers don’t accept ads for NC-17 movies is practically a moot point, since virtually no studios spend big money on newspaper ads anymore). It remains to be seen if TV stations will allow Fox Searchlight to buy ads for Shame – when it receives a wide release in 2012.As a side note, NO rating, neither G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17 can be legally enforced by police, the government, or any movie theater employee, as they are voluntary ratings and have no legal standing, anywhere – including movie theaters, video stores or chain stores selling any movie with any rating.Movie theaters have no ‘right’ – nor obligation of any kind – to prevent any person of any age from seeing any movie of any rating, nor do any stores from preventing kids from buying them.Movie ratings from the MPAA are not law and not subject to any law in the United States.