Descent
Talia Lugacy
City Lights (2007)

By Nicholas Nocketback

This Months DVD Theme: Rape—One Done Right and One Done Wrong, Real, Reel Wrong

I can safely say that under no circumstances what so ever should anyone think of renting this complete cinematic collapse. Now feel free to hate me after reading this, but I originally rented this because I had heard of the “controversy” over Rosario’s big rape scene and its NC-17 rating. Understandably I can get porn for free on the electronic internet computer thing, but can you see Rosario Dawson? No.
That being said, the “controversial” scene in question involves two men (don’t get me wrong, that’s great for those into it, but I’m not quite there yet).
Dawson plays Maya, a coed who is smart and shy with a probing curiosity about sex—only she’s just not ready. Enter Jared (Chad Faust) the wealthy jock with the gift of sexual gab. Faust’s performance is possibly one of the most non-convincing and pedestrian I’ve seen, although just about every player in this tragedy is poorly qualified to act. Maya is forcefully taken advantage of and represses in to the dark underworld aka the dance club. Long, long story short, she finds a way to stick it Jared.

Lust, Caution
Ang Lee
Focus Features (2008)

For coveting done correctly, one needn’t look farther than Brokeback Mountain man, Ang Lee. Lust, Caution is an erotic thriller flawlessly cast and remarkably acted—Tang Wei gives an achingly striking performance. Set during the onset of WWII in Japanese occupied China, a group of radical idealists plot their way into a very dangerous game of cat and mouse, with Tang Wei’s character Wong Chia Chi as the femme fetale. Shot as a series of flashbacks, we see freshman, Chia Chi, give a remarkable performance in her University’s porpagandist Chinese production. Her significant talent lands her the most impotant and dangerous role of her life: temptress—chosen to lure high ranking official, Mr. Yee, to his death. This version wasn’t seen in China because of the violent sex scenes which play such a backset to the stunning acting and direction. It’s a most beautiful film capturing some most repellent behavior. Enjoy!