Lust, Caution

Ang Lee returns to China, and follows up the sexual provocations of Brokeback Mountain with this NC-17 look at Chinese resistance to Japanese occupation in WWII, strangely parallel to Black Book in finding a woman’s body as the prime site of contestation. A young woman is recruited into a college drama group, which after mounting an inspiring patriotic play decides to turn toward more direct action, specifically the assassination of a high-ranking collaborator. The newfound star (of both play and movie) is sent to seduce the official into a trap. Hot stuff happens and the plan is derailed. Lee is not as gleefully trashy as Verhoeven, but is equally sensationalist, and this film elicits a number of sensations, if ultimately it goes on too long without getting anyplace special. (2007, dvd, n.) *6+* (MC-61.)