15 Most Controversial Films Of The Decade (So Far)

12. Shame

What's It About? Steve McQueen's Shame would certainly play well alongside Lars Von Trier's Nymphomaniac (although it would be a depressing viewing experience by anyone's standards) - this too takes a look at a person addicted to sex, in this case a business executive named Brendan (Michael Fassbinder) hooked on porn and sex with prostitutes. His equally fragile sister Sissy (Carey Mullligan) arrives and the two struggle to overcome their demons before they're consumed by them. Why Was It Controversial? Again, the similarities with Nymphomaniac are present and the controversy lies entirely in the grimy and sordid depiction of sexual relationships. The film received an NC-17 rating in the US, which the producer saw as "a badge of honour, not a scarlett letter." McQueen insisted that he "didn't do this to be provocative" when questioned about the sexual content and rumours of a woman fainting at a screening - perhaps had Fifty Shades Of Grey taken a leaf out of Shame's book it would have been a significantly better film.