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Lust, Caution
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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 89 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Joan Chen, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Wei Tang
  • Summary: Shanghai, 1942. Japan's World War II occupation of this Chinese city continues in force. Mrs. Mak, a woman of sophistication and means, walks into a café, places a phone call, and then sits and waits. She remembers how her story began several years earlier, in China in 1938. She is not in fact Mrs. Mak, but shy Wong Chia Chi. With WWII underway, Wong has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England. As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yu Min. Kuang has started a drama society to shore up patriotism, As the theater troupe's new leading lady, Wong realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences--and Kuang. He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee. Each student has a part to play; Wong will be Mrs. Mak, who will gain Yee's trust by befriending his wife and then draw the man into an affair. Wong transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted--until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. (Focus Features)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    100
    Lee has perfectly captured the details, textures, sights and sounds of a China caught between East and West, occupied by an ancient enemy and quaking on the eve of an earth-shaking revolution.
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Anthony Lane
    60
    Running two hours and forty minutes, never finds the same balance: by the time he gets to the lust, it is too late to throw caution to the winds.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    38
    Lust, Caution could have done with a lot more lust and a lot less caution.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. TimC.
    10
    This is a great film if you understand Chinese language and the historic background. It kept me focused throughout the entire movie. Ang Lee knew that there could be cultural barrier for westerners watching this movie, for he said he cared most about how Taiwanese and Chinese people viewed the film. Sense of patriotism exhibited during the Japanese occupation and Chinese feeling about traitors is not easily appreciated. By the way, it is largely based on a true story.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. jorjaL.
    10
    Those who didn't "get" this story seemed to have REALLY not gotten it. This is a truly beautiful movie, deeply touching and dramatic. It wasn't a popcorn action movie for people whose attention span can't make it past a 30-second TV ad.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. RebeccaS.
    2
    Visually a beautiful movie, but pretty much long and boring. The violent, graphic, and otherwise mean-spirited sex really didn't do much for the story except add that extra 40 minutes. A real disappointment compared to Lee's other movies.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 23 User Reviews

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