Ang's Lust Gets Caution Of NC-17
By Rafe Telsch: 2007-08-25 23:34:49
Ang Lee keeps pushing the envelope with his movies. His last big opus, Brokeback Mountain gained both notoriety and fame for tackling a homosexual relationship. Now his latest picture, Lust, Caution seems to be 
making things even more steamy.
It was announced Friday that the MPAA has branded Lee’s next picture with an NC-17 rating, hardly surprising for a movie that has “lust” in the title and depicts a woman who plots to murder a man after seducing her way into his life. Ruled as carrying too much graphic sexuality, the movie has gotten the stamp of doom in some people’s eyes, with the added ruling that an appeal wouldn’t be possible without a recut.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film contains three graphic sex scenes, one of which is an extended montage (entendre not intended). While no full frontal male nudity is shown, there is female on male oral sex, some S&M, and several “non-traditional” positions used to communicate the aggression between the characters. So, the ruling isn’t exactly much of a surprise.
What is surprising is that Focus Films CEO James Schamus announced that the company is accepting the ruling without protest. Additionally, they won’t be forcing any changes to the movie to improve that rating. They gave Ang Lee final cut, this is what he’s delivered, and the company is standing behind that. That’s an incredibly uncommon move considering that the rating endangers the movie’s success at the box office, particularly since many major chains will not carry NC-17 movies. That leaves the picture mostly in the hands of arthouses who probably will offer no problems in carrying the movie, but just aren’t as well traveled to the common filmgoer.
Lust, Caution is scheduled to premiere in the next few weeks in Venice and Toronto film festivals, leading to its theatrical run. How many theaters that will be is up in the air at this point, but I have to say it’s refreshing to hear about a studio backing their artist instead of forcing him to conform so they can make some extra money.
Weighing the ratings of sex and violence
Daily Vidette Editorial Board
Daily Vidette Editorial Board
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: Viewpoint
PrintEmail DoubleClick Any Word Page 1 of 1 Ang Lee, director of the controversial film Brokeback Mountain, recently submitted his new movie "Lust, Caution" to the MPAA. The film follows a woman in Japanese-occupied Shanghai who seduces a Japanese officer in order to kill him. Because of the film's pervasive sexuality, the MPAA branded it with an NC-17 rating.
Ang Lee was handed the Best Director Oscar for Brokeback Mountain,but not without controversy. Because the film portrayed a gay relationship, it was given an R-rating, even though during their sex scene, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are fully clothed.
It's not a new phenomenon. Attitudes toward sex in the United States have always been particularly puritan. Sexual education programs in many of our schools teach that abstinence is the only acceptable method of birth control. Homosexuality is seen as something to be laughed at, such as in the recent film "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry." The audience identifies with the characters because they're disgusted by their situation, and aren't we all disgusted by sex?
What is perhaps more disturbing is the fact that "Lust, Caution" was given an NC-17 rating while films like Saw and Touristas, which contained incredible levels of violence, were given an R rating. Films like these portray extremely grotesque situations of torture, and are some of the most popular films in the country. We're disgusted by sexuality, but enthralled by violence.
It's frightening to think that something as natural as sex, something everyone on the planet does, is a subject so taboo that we feel we cannot depict it in films, but something as unnatural as torturing fellow beings is "cool" and "awesome." We don't think twice before watching a horror film, and although we may cover our eyes, we still find the extreme violence fascinating. But sex is "gross" and "perverted." In fact, "Lust, Caution"'s NC-17 rating was given for its depiction of "unconventional" sexual positions and male-on-female oral sex. The film contains no male full-frontal nudity, the most common reason for an NC-17 rating. This also represents the sexist view that female nudity is an OK thing while male nudity is not.
America's puritan view of sexuality is potentially very damaging. If we continue to close our eyes to sex, we'll teach the next generation and generations to come that sex is something to be feared, not celebrated. And the MPAA's message that sex is far dirtier than extreme violence may contribute to rising levels of violence in schools, the workplace and society.
"Lust, Caution," with its NC-17 rating, probably won't see any showings in the area. However, you can check it out on DVD when it's released.
Is it really as bad as the MPAA says? Decide for yourself.
