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| Movie Review: Lust, Caution Alternate Title: Sex, Lies and Espionage
Story: Director Ang
Lee challenges his audiences. He paints beautiful canvas' in
all of his films and this award winning one is no exception. His skill
is such that he adeptly transports us to the time and place of his films.
This time out is the Japanese occupation of China. It takes place mostly
in Shanghai from 1938 to 1942. The screenplay is by James Schamus
and Wang Hui-Ling and is based on the short story by
Eileen Chang. A college age group of theater students try to fight the occupation
through patriotic dramatic works. They graduate to real espionage when
they try to assassinate the Chinese collaborators who align with the
Japanese and murder the members of the Chinese Resistance. The youngest,
most beautiful member of the group does the heavy lifting and risks
the most when she becomes the lover of the most notorious collaborator. The buzz and whispers about the sex scenes are true. It received an
NC-17 rating because the sex is wild, heavy, hot and leaves little to
the imagination. However, it is not at all gratuitous. Ang Lee clearly
demonstrates what people will do during war time and the sex scenes
are perhaps the only time in the film when emotions are truly out in
the open. This film demands patience from the audience. Lee takes a long time
to tell the story but if you sit back, enjoy the detail, watch the incredible
acting and the beautiful cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
time will go quickly for you. Acting: Tony Leung (Infernal
Affairs, In the Mood for Love) as the collaborator is brilliant.
He is scary, brutal, intense and riveting. Tang Wei,
in her debut performance is amazing. She is beautiful, brave and totally
believable. There are strong performance throughout the entire ensemble
cast including: Chiu Wai, Joan Chen, Wang Lee-Hom
Predilection: I like Ang Lee's films.
Critters: Three guard dogs
Food: It's China - of course there is food and lots
of it.
Sex Spectrum: The sex is definitely high on the spectrum.
It is not always warm and fuzzy, so beware of some of the brutality.
Blatant Product Placement: War is hell.
Soundtrack: Terrific
Visual Art: The attention to detail is perfect.
Theater Audience: Not very crowded for a Wednesday
afternoon.
Weather: China has lots of weather. Hot, cold and
in-between.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: There is very sudden violence scene
and some of the sex is very brutal.
Drift Factor: I did not drift at all.
Predictability Level: I was not sure what was going
to happen.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Probably
Big Screen or Rental: If you are going to be brave
and see this film then the big screen is the way to go. For some other
fine films by Ang Lee check out: Brokeback Mountain,
Hulk, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Ice Storm, Sense and Sensibility,
Eat Drink Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet
Length: Forty minutes over the two hour rule. It
would have helped my attention span if it had been shortened by about
20 minutes or so.
LOBO HOWLS: 8 |