Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, has been getting a lot of critical praise for seemingly elevating the NC-17 rating back to an art-house standard. The film is also being heralded as a bracing look into the world of the sex addict.

The critics and the audience on Rotten Tomatoes have given the film a 79% rating. According to the site, the critics feel that “Shame” “[b]oast[s] stellar performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan” and is “a powerful plunge into the mania of addiction affliction.” Let’s see what they had to say individually.

“Few filmmakers have plumbed the soul-churning depths of sexual addiction as fearlessly as British director Steve McQueen has in ‘Shame.’ “–Justin Chang, Variety

” I rolled my eyes for most of ‘Shame.’ But never at [Fassbender].”–Wesley Morris, The Boston Globe

“Steve McQueen has now moved into the rarefied realm of master craftsman with this magnificent portrait of a sex addict…[I]t’s a difficult film told with unreserved courage, attention to detail[.]“–S. James Wegg, JWR

Now I turn it over to you. Do you agree with the critics? Do you think “Shame” and Fassbender’s performance should win some awards this season? Give your opinions on the film in the comments section below.