With much anticipation - excited filmgoers packed the Landmark Theater on opening night for arguably the hottest ticket in town: the unveiling of Ang Lee's espionage thriller "Lust, Caution". A scant few years ago, Lee won an Oscar for directing the intimate tale of a couple of cowboys who romantically fall for each other in the critically acclaimed independent film "Brokeback Mountain".
Here, Lee takes a director's big-budget turn (and with an epic sweep) pulls off a monument to film.
The setting is during the occupation of Shanghai in 1942.
A large part of the melodrama unfolds in a tightly-controlled residential compound for high-ranking officials.
In the opening scenes a handful of elegant women chit-chat and play a hand of mah-jong.
Lee not only uses the clever story-telling device to move the story along, but to drop precious insightful clues along the way.
Without much fuss we are introduced to Mr. Yee - head of intelligence for the regime - and as such an enemy of the resistance.
The film's lens now sharply focuses on a plot by a troupe of theatrical players (secret card-carrying members of the resistance) to assassinate Yee as payback for atrocities committed against friends and family.
The magnetic female lead - Tang Wei - is ensconced in his midst undercover with the specific aim of luring Yee from his safe haven so her cohorts can carry out the dastardly deed.
From the offset Ang Lee artfully paints each precious frame from a rich palette distinctly his own.
With painstaking detail, he captures a bygone era in all its minute glorious detail.
There are many deft touches. In one particularly romantic scene, a popular tune of the day crackles on an old phonograph player in the deep background and qaintly falls upon the ears.
Other eye-catching flourishes around the room literally seduce us into Lee's alluring realm - at which point - there is no looking back.
The sets are lush, and likewise, the costumes are exquisite and outstanding.
Each meticulous element is magically weaved by virtue of Lee's keen extraordinary eye. The expert cinematography is so spell-binding, the audience is beholden to it.
The characters are artfully set in each scene - and then - skillfully maneuvered to maximum effect in what a mounts to an intense provocative round of all-or-nothing chess.
The end result?
The audience's sensibilities are subtly massaged with sly metaphors only the medium of film - and Ang Lee's invisible hand - could conjure up.
There are a number of explicit tantalizing scenes depicting raw sex, as well.
Here, the director walks a tightrope between high-art and soft porn.
To my artistic eye the brief foray is not exploitative at all, though.
Indeed, the voyeuristic peak into the never-never land of flesh and fantasy is more than that. In my own analytical mind, the scenario amounts to an intimate reveal of a psychological bondage which chronicles an undeniable mounting interplay of tensions often rooted in repression.
The auteur not only manages to expose the characters' innermost vulnerabilities - but at the same time - revel in a myriad of lustful potent moments which ultimately explore and conquer the innermost secrets of the heart that break the surface at times in a profound insightful way.
In essence, the scenes are a strident gaze into an unspoken language, that often binds two lovers; hindered by limiting social graces and a long-suffering desire for shelter from the storm.
Tony Leung Chi Wai is perfectly cast in the male lead and pulls off a multi-layered characterization with ease and flair.
He's a capable actor who can express deep pools of thought without gestures or techniques that draw attention to the craft.
Ms. Wei is positively luminous on screen.
The newcomer is fascinating to watch - especially during those memorable on-screen moments in her transformation from naive young schoolgirl to seductress - in the high-stakes world of espionage and intrigue.
Ang Lee's underlying theme appears to underscore that men do their duty in spite of their passions - while women are often swayed by their emotions - especially when romance saunters into their lives unexpectedly.
The director's masterpiece is flawed, however.
For example, in the first hour of the film, it's evident that the conspirators had ample opportunity to snuff Lee when he strolled up the front steps of the apartment house.
When the "motley crew" failed to seize the moment belief was suspended.
Also, the film is too long.
There's a lot of unnecessary footage of characters dashing - here and there - across busy streets. And, the movie is bogged down by boring shots of chauffeured autos purring up to curbs, then exiting just quickly, which don't make much dramatic sense.
With some judicious editing - "Lust" - would resonate louder, impact more fully.
But, Ang Lee is obviously a self-absorbed self-indulgent man. He'd undoubtedly respond negatively to the critique much like Mozart did to the King's suggestions in the film, "Amadeus".
For example, when court composers argued that Mozart's piece was too lengthy, the King turned to Mozart and barked something to the effect of,
"Too many notes. Cut a few".
Mozart was mortified.
Lee would be wise to take the editorial advice. After all, the rambling aspects - in some respects - diminish a potential masterpiece.
In sum, "Lust, Caution" cries out for a firm hand to put it squarely on the path to where it should be headed - on the top ten list - as one of the great films of the new millennium.
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