Lust, Caution - Review

Discuss this movie on our message board!

Rated: NC-17

Distributor: Focus Features

Release Date: 2007-09-28

Starring: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wang Leehom

Directed by Ang Lee

Produced by Bill Kong, Ang Lee, James Schamus

Written by Wang Hui Ling, James Schamus; Based on the short story by Eileen Chang

Visit the movie's Official Site!

Reviewed by Josh Tyler : 2007-10-03 11:40:24

Lust, Caution is the latest from my old nemesis Ang Lee, a filmmaker who everyone else seems to be ready to lube up and use as directed, but I can’t seem to get excited about. Because of that, this review comes with a disclaimer: I’m one of the two people on the planet who hated Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I think Brokeback Mountain is all issue hype and no substance, and I liked Hulk… the only Ang Lee movie everyone else seems to hate. Clearly there’s something wrong with me.

For Lust, Caution Lee returns to Chinese language filmmaking with a story set in World War II era China. The film jumps between time periods, taking place both shortly before and then after the Japanese occupation of the country. It follows a young college girl named Wang, who joins a theater troop full of students eager to support their country against the attacking Japanese. At first they do it by putting on patriotic plays, but it’s not long before they decide to take their patriotism too far, and plot to murder Mr. Yee, a Chinese official suspected of colluding with the enemy.

Wang is instrumental to their plot and uses her acting skills to infiltrate Mr. Yee’s household and later into taking her as a mistress. The film seems mostly to be about her loss of innocence, as a wide eyed school girl is sucked into a dark game and forced to become something she’s not. It’s a long and ultimately unrewarding tale, Wang and her group are only marginally sympathetic, remote characters. Much more interesting is the character of Mr. Yee, a real villain in every sense of the word, yet at the same time one that’s completely and utterly human. Tony Leung gives a brilliant performance as Yee, and if there’s one bright spot in this snoozer it’s him.

It’s the distance between the audience and Wang that really drags the movie down. It’s obvious from the movie’s warm, vaguely erotic color palate that Lee is trying to create something seductive, and in fact the movie is rated NC-17 almost entirely for sexuality. But for a movie which seems to want to be about sex the vast majority of it is spent watching boring people in period costumes playing mahjong. What sexuality there is ends up being confined solely to the middle of the film and not all that important to the movie. It’s almost gratuitous and could have easily been edited down to an R without losing anything of value. There’s no good reason for Lust, Caution to be NC-17 and they’ve sort of shot themselves in the foot by releasing it as is, since NC-17 movies usually get only very limited American distribution.

Not mind you, that anyone would want to see it even if it were more widely distributed. The movie’s long and lifeless, with no real payoff. Should you make it through the entire thing you’ll be punished for it, since Ang delivers a ludicrous, nearly inexplicable ending. I’m sure critics will praise it; lengthy, languishing, pointless foreign language films usually get good reviews and doubly so if that foreign language film has Ang Lee’s name attached to it. But unless you’re looking for something to replace your Ambien prescription, skip it.

Latest Movie Reviews:

Public Enemies

The Boat That Rocked (UK release)

My Sister's Keeper

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs 3D

Josh's Must Own Movies List

Image Gallery for Lust, Caution

Comment on “Lust, Caution”

Note: This website is not meant for use by minors. The views expressed in the comments section below are not our own. This section is intended for discussion of the topic in the post above. Disagreement is encouraged, however comments which attack, insult, or threaten the author in a personal manner won't be published. Similarly, comments that we deem to be poorly worded, or wildly off topic will also not be approved and may be mocked. For free, uncensored, unfettered, and possibly dangerous discussion visit our forum.

Subscribe to topic comments

0 0 / 0
y n

pedro
March 6, 2008 at 18:05

brokeback rocked!! i believe issue hype was the least important thing in the movie.

Reply
0 0 / 0
y n

Joe
January 14, 2008 at 13:18

I experienced the film as a stab in the heart - the end was hopeless, the betrayal of her comrades by the lead to painful and not truly explained. May be downbeat is cool these days, but there was no redemption of any kind for the brave young Chinese fighting the brutal collaborator. This film seemed to be saying that resistance was impossible, that you are doomed to fall for your oppressor. I found it very disturbing and upsetting. There is too much suffering as it is and people need the message that resistance IS worth it againt cruel empires and oppressors.

Reply
0 0 / 0
y n

John
December 9, 2007 at 12:16

I'm asian. I grew up in asia (singapore). I hated this film. I have read the reviews and how the sex scenes were supposed to be character development. i did not see that. i thought it showed punishment, not enjoyment. I understand the mahjong scenes and its purpose. It was a beautifully-shot film, but as far as entertainment, I see no value. You don't connect with the girl, nor feel sorry for her

Reply
0 0 / 0
y n

Azn
November 9, 2007 at 16:08

Well, your disclaimer says it all. This review is biased :P. However you have to admit that you're not anywhere close to understanding the chinese culture and the implied messages Ang was trying to convey.I do agree with you on one thing though that the ending was a bit dissapointing offering no real satisfaction but Ang said in an interview that he made it on purpose as it was in line with the novel. pff

Reply
0 0 / 0
y n

Skyla Lin
October 21, 2007 at 14:17

i believe it is difficult for westerners to understand the mental games that are played in the moive, especially the mahjong scenes. it will be boring for those who doesnt understand the meaning behind it. the scenes are there for a reason, it is part of the culture and you can really tell the character's mentality through the game, and the true language and words behind what they are saying. it is unfair to say it is not important, and those arent costumes, people still wear those dresses to formal occasions.

Reply
0 0 / 0
y n

Matt
October 3, 2007 at 16:51

I am HONORED to be your Anti-Ang WINGMAN!

Reply

Subscribe to topic comments

Please login or sign up to post reply

Back to Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution - Review

Comment on “Lust, Caution”

Leave a Reply