Movie: Lust, Caution (2007)

Rating: A-

It's not just new movies that deserve mentioning. And unfortunately, there's simply not enough time to watch EVERY movie at the cinema. Although, I've been meaning to take in Lust, Caution for a while now.

Such a waste to cast singer / songwriter 王力宏 (LeeHom Wang) in this powerful and lustful drama. Whomever told him that he could act needs to be shot. That, however, is pretty much my biggest criticism of this movie. Tragically sexy,  湯唯's (Wei Tang) performance was powerful and mesmerising. And as much as 梁朝偉's (Tony Cheung) portrayal of Mr. Yee was quietly brilliant, it was 湯唯 that stole the show.

Beautifully filmed, Ang Lee catches intensity and trepidation of his lead characters. But the strength and intensity of 梁朝偉 and 湯唯 completely outshines the rest of the movie, leaving me to feel like maybe Ang Lee didn't pay enough attention to the rest of the cast. The story, however, is riveting, thrusting the innocent schoolgirl 湯唯 into the dark, lurid world of espionage.

As titillating as the Lust, Caution is, it is MUCH better if you understand a little about the history in this time period. As powerful as 梁朝偉 seems to be in the movie, there's something that ISN'T said in the movie. He has the unenviable position of EVERYBODY wanting him dead. The Japanese don't trust him and the only reason they tolerate him is because he is of use to them. Given the opportunity, anybody working with him, would kill him for his position. All the other Chinese want to kill him because he is working for the Japanese. He needs to be equally ruthless and civil at the same time while always be vigilant of people trying to usurp him or kill him.

Watch for 湯唯's little soliloquy. It totally sent chills down my spine. It just goes to show, to what lengths people will go to in times of war. 

~Cheers.