Lust, Caution





The Pitch:

In the Japanese-occupied Shanghai in the 1940s. A well-dressed, attractive young Chinese woman named is sitting in a café in a posh neighbourhood. When she makes a call to a man, her seemingly innocuous dialogues are coded signals that prompts a cell of young resistance agents to load their weapons and spring into action.




High Points:

The film focuses on Wang Jiazhi, played by Wei Tang(gorgeous!) in a wholly accomplished performance. Jiazhi attempts to set the traitorous, Yee (Tony Leung- an amazing actor!) up for an assassination attempt. I really got involved with the story.

Low Points:

It was snubbed by the Oscars. It is such an amayzing film!

Comments:

There's no doubt Ang Lee is such a talented director. Particularly, I thought " Lust, Caution" is his finest and best movie in my viewpoints. It is a long film- 160 minutes long, but everything is perfect_ dialogues, cast, cinematography, costumes.

Much has been made of the film’s problematic NC-17 rating, usually the kiss of death at the box office. To be sure, Lust, Caution’s sexuality is explicit, though never exploitative. Lee stages the sex scenes, which come late in the film, as sensual, erotic art, never exhibitionist titillation.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto captures a realistically drawn wartime Shanghai and Hong Kong wreathed in cigarette smoke, deepening shadows, and warm, evening light. Alexandre Desplat’s music is dazzling, and screen newcomer Tang Wei, is a vision to behold, more than holding her own against the suave Leung, best known to American audiences for his role in "Hero."

Award:

Best Picture at Venice Film Festival.