Definitely Explicit: Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution
Directed by Ang Lee
Released September 28, 2007

Ang Lee's new period drama has been talked about mostly because of its NC-17 rating. The set pieces and costumes are all very nice, and the story is somewhat bland but not too bad (very similar to "Black Book", actually, although this certainly plays out much better than that distaster). The performances are quite in tune with the time, and leads Tony Leung and Tang Wei (in her feature film debut!) both do a great job. But after all is said and done it is simply a story being told, and the visuals and music cannot elevate it beyond being an overlong and overly sexual drama. I mean, seriously, some of this stuff is so heavily gratituous and unnecessary. Be prepared to be just a tad disturbed.

B-