Tony Leung Supports Co-Star Tang Wei
Tang Wei and Tony Leung in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution
Speaking to reporters after winning Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards Monday night, Tony Leung came out in support of his blacklisted co-star Tang Wei. Wei recently had her advertisements taken off the air by China’s State Administration of Radio Film and Television following her sexually explicit and “politically sensitive” performance in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution despite the fact that the same group had allowed the film to play in an edited form in the first place.
Said Leung, “If a film has problems, then the whole (film production) crew should have a responsibility. We are a team and not an individual, and I’m a part of this team.”
No amount of hectoring from the West is going to convince China to change its censorious ways. It’s going to take the efforts of people on the inside so it’s good to see popular artists banding together to support one another.
Plus it’s an excuse to encourage anyone who hasn’t seen it to check out Lust, Caution. I wasn’t instantly enamored of it, but have warmed up to it and look forward to watching it again. Make sure you get the real NC-17 version and not the bullshit watered down Blockbuster version.
Source: Reuters.
Filed under: News
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- Review: Lust, Caution (2007) *** 1/2
Good for Tony Leung. At least someone is standing up for her, and he’s got the name and the popularity there, so maybe it will mean something.
As I said in the amended post, it’s up to people like him to make changes in China if they want it, so it’s good to see him standing up.
Tang Wei’s performance in “Lust, Caution” was terribly overlooked last year…it’s a shame that China’s backwards ways are marginalizing a great actress on the verge of international stardom. It’s like they’re shooting themselves in the foot.
Way to go their, Tony. Tang Wei was criminally overlooked in the acting categories last year, which is really disappointing considering how strong her performance was.
She would’ve gotten the attention she deserved here if her film had been better received. It was a difficult film (in my opinion) and people didn’t quite know what to make of it.
The worst thing I read was that someone said it should’ve been directed by Wong Kar Wai. I think they totally missed the boat.
I loved “Lust, Caution.” In requires patience and isn’t as accessible as “Brokeback Mountain” or “Crouching Tiger,” but I thought it was beautifully made and often quite moving, in a very stoic, Eastern way. And Alexandre Desplat’s score was phenomenal…I never understood why the movie was so ignored.
Was it the NC-17?
That didn’t help it, but it shouldn’t have hurt it in places like NY and LA.
Combine the rating with the subtitles, a not exactly overwhelming critical response to a difficult film and … well there it is.
LUST CAUTION is a fine film, but not a great one. I am pretty much with Craig on this. But there is no question that Tang Wei was superlative and Desplat’s score was extraordinary (both points brought out by Matthew)
I loved Lust, Caution too, Matthew. In fact, it was in my top 5 for 2007.
The film certainly deserved more attention than it got, Tang Wei in particular. Unfortunately it is a difficult film, and the fact that she’s Asian was against her. How many Asian actors have been nominated for an Oscar?