Ang Lee's latest movie Lust, Caution is a period drama set during WW II China, split between Hong Kong and Shanghai, and it has a lot in common with Paul Verhoeven's recent Black Book in terms of its content, dealing with the resistance in an occupied country and a woman who does her part to fight against the enemy by infiltrating the enemy camp using her body and her sexuality. In this case, the woman is a young college co-ed played by newcomer Tang Wei and the target is China's finest actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai as Mr. Yee, a high-ranking Japanese collaborator who the resistance wants to kill as a traitor to the Chinese people. At over 2 and a half hours long, the movie is somewhat of an enigma, and I have a feeling I'll probably have to see it a second time if I really want to batten down my opinion on the movie, because I'm generally mixed about it. It's a beautifully written, acted and shot film--another masterpiece in filmmaking from Lee for sure--but it's very long and there are aspects that at first glance don't seem particularly necessary that could have easily been trimmed.
After an opening of a number of well-to-do women playing mah-jong, including the youngest one who is obviously more than she seems, we then go back four years to when she was still known as Wang Jiazhi, a young college freshman roped into joining the drama department as they put on a play to support the resistance against the invading Japanese. She proves to be a natural and when the drama students get riled up over Chinese traitors collaborating with the invading Japanese, she's enlisted in their plan to kill one of the main Hong Kong offenders by having her cozy up to his wife and join her regular mah-jong circle. She ultimately winds up having an affair with the man they want to kill, making it even harder for her to fulfill the mission.
Even though I have mixed feelings on it, Lust, Caution is very much a film that will be an acquired taste. Some might find the parallels between the Chinese student rebellion and other revolutionary movements, the film takes its cues from Chinese drama in that it takes its time for key developments to unfold. Fortunately, it's a gorgeous film that you can enjoy for the visuals, the soundtrack and the terrific acting, making it much harder to hold its slow pace against it.
Tang Wei is a lovely and talented young actress, who effortlessly carries her first major film role, appearing in just about every scene as her story is mostly told in a linear fashion. Tony Leung continues to be China's true chameleon, looking completely different in this role then he has in previous roles. At first, he seems to be reprising his romantic lead role from movies like 2408 and In the Mood for Love, but this is a far tougher role, one that makes it harder to empathize with him, even though the pressure of being a traitor to his people weighs heavily on his shoulder. When Yee and Wang finally consummate their affair, it's shocking and unexpected how violent their first try is. One can understand why it was important for Lee to show their "lovemaking" sessions, not only to see what Wang has to endure but how she uses her skills as an actress to fool Yee into believing that she's falling for him. Later, she tells the resistance that it's still an act on her part, but that she can't take it any more, since he's starting to get to her.
Frankly, I didn't even recognize Joan Chen as the gossipy Mrs. Yee due to the '40s hairstyle and clothing she wears, but most of the other players in this story are there only as support to showing the relationship between Wang and Mr. Yee.
Some might find the ending to be a bit of a disappointment especially since it might not go the way some might expect, but the movie could have easily ended a few scenes earlier and been more satisfying.
If you're a fan of some of Wong Kar-Wai's period films, you might appreciate Ang Lee's efforts to create a traditional Chinese tale, though after this experiment, he may want to return to making more Western films or make the long-awaited prequel to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because he's not going to keep his American audience around for long with such huge leaps of faith such as this one.
Rating: 7.5/10
Lust, Caution opens in select cities on September 28, but you can get more info or try to get tickets for its Toronto International Film Festival screenings here.
