· You can't really call this "news" after everything that's been written and otherwise rumored about Shame, but as presumed, the MPAA ratings board has officially issued an NC-17 for Steve McQueen's acclaimed new film about a sex addict (played by Michael Fassbender) in New York City. Distributor Fox Searchlight expected it all along and will attempt to make it the first NC-17 picture ever nominated for an Academy Award. Good luck! Sincerely -- after 21 years, it's time. [Deadline]
· Speaking of Shame, Carey Mulligan says her full-frontal nude scene "wasn't uncomfortable": "It was a very small set and a very small crew, so it didn't feel like I was doing it in front of that many people." Ha! I saw her topless from the front row of a recent stage production in NYC. Live! Mere feet away! The Half-Mulligan! There were hundreds of us! Anyway. I'm just saying... Honestly, I don't know what I'm saying. [LAT]
· A screenwriter named Marcus Webb filed suit in New York on Tuesday, claiming that Sylvester Stallone lifted the concept and plot of his blockbuster The Expendables from Webb's unproduced -- but registered, copyrighted and circulated -- screenplay The Cordoba Caper. Aha! So Webb is the responsible party! Get him, everyone. [Reuters]
· Warner Bros. has picked up The End, a spec script chronicling three interweaving tales of people facing the imminent end of the world. [Deadline]
· Meet the clowns protesting the London premiere of Anonymous by removing Shakespeare's hallowed name from road signs. Sigh. Can't they protest Hostel 3 or something genuinely offensive? Suggestions welcome. [BBC via NYT]
· Regardless of your affinity for Pearl Jam, this interview with the editor of Cameron Crowe's recent band documentary provides revealing insight to how your grunge-rock anniversary sausage is made. Or most any authorized music doc, for that matter. [The Awl]