Fox Searchlight, or “The New Miramax” as I call it, picked up the distribution rights to Shame during the TIFF (the film played previously at festivals in Venice and Telluride). Steve McQueen’s follow-up to Hunger, also starring Michael Fassbender, has gotten good reviews, particularly for Fassbender’s performance as a sex addict. But its subject matter, not to mention its graphic sex scenes, is pretty off-putting for most audiences I suspect.
Yet Fox Searchlight made assurances after TIFF that no cuts would be made. No pixel blurs or black boxes covering certain appendages. So that insures that the film won’t receive anything less than an NC-17 rating.
Shame will get a limited release beginning December 2nd (hopefully you live close to an arthouse theater). The real trick will be on how to advertise a movie where the opening sequence features Fassbender walking around totally nude with his thing swinging about. Best bet is to go viral with the marketing, as NC-17 trailers or spots will get no play in major multiplexes or on television.
