Brandon, a thirty-something man living in New York, eludes intimacy with women but feeds his deepest desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister temporarily moves into his apartment, stirring up bitter memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's life, like his fragile mind, gets out of control.
Acting
Fassbender's physical performance—hunger and vacancy in every muscle.
Direction
McQueen's long takes force you to witness what you'd rather look away from.
Cinematography
Sean Bobbitt makes NYC look antiseptic, all glass and neon and no warmth.
Director
Steve McQueen
Michael Fassbender
Brandon
Carey Mulligan
Sissy
James Badge Dale
David
Nicole Beharie
Marianne
Lucy Walters
Woman on Subway Train
Mari-Ange Ramirez
Alexa
Alex Manette
Steven
Hannah Ware
Samantha
Elizabeth Masucci
Elizabeth
Rachel Farrar
Rachel
Loren Omer
Loren
Lauren Tyrrell
Hostess
Marta Milans
Cocktail Waitress
Jake Siciliano
Skype Son
Robert Montano
Waiter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fassbender and McQueen developed the character for years; the script was only 60 pages with extensive improvisation. The NC-17 rating was accepted without appeal—Fox Searchlight knew cutting it would destroy the film.
Mulligan's devastating 'New York, New York' performance was shot in a single take, filmed at 3am in an empty club. She chose the song herself, wanting Sissy to reach for joy and miss completely.
GB
