::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

ÒWho created the sexual choreography?Ó We asked director Ang Lee, whose nude bedroom scenes in Lust, Caution between the ravishing Tang Wei and Tony Leung are no-holds-barred graphic with their pretzel-twist positions. The lengthy nude passionate and painful lovemaking took 11 days to film. After a considerable pause, Ang, whose demeanor is endearingly shy, whispered, ÒI did.Ó In Hong Kong, he told a CNN interviewer that despite his celebrity, he feels awkward conversing off the set. ÒItÕs just part of my character.Ó And then added that being one of the renowned Chinese-speaking directors in the world Òis a tremendous burden É IÕd rather be watching somebody else carry the torch É but IÕm devoted to making movies, thatÕs the duty IÕve fallen into. Making a movie is different from making small talk É plans are buzzing in my head when IÕm rolling the camera.Ó Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, who photographed AngÕs Brokeback Mountain, says heÕs Òvery specific about everything, we even took two weeks to shoot one mahjong scene.Ó The filmÕs Wang Leehom, the number one pop idol in Asia, adds, ÒI never saw him write anything down. No shot lists or storyboards. EverythingÕs in his head.Ó And Joan Chen, who plays Tony LeungÕs wife, reflects that ÒAng is confident, but never cocky É he amazes with his sense of humility.Ó While Tony Leung confesses, ÒI didnÕt want the shoot to end. From the first day of work, every member of AngÕs team was trying their best, pushing their talents to the fullest Éon other films IÕve done, maybe only two or four out of ten have that attitude.Ó Over the years, weÕve enjoyed a friendly relationship with Ang, who we met when he filmed Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, and itÕs consistently rewarding talking with him about movies. He attended my annual festival luncheon at the Four Seasons during the Toronto Film Festival in years past, and seemed comfortable chatting with the Toronto filmmakers. He continues to surprise us with the diverse genres of his films Ð the cowboy romance in Brokeback Mountain, which won him the Best Director Oscar; Jane AustenÕs Sense and Sensibility (Òrecreating JaneÕs era was easier,Ó notes Ang); the martial arts classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Ride With the Devil about the American Civil War; The Ice Storm about suburban America. Filmed during 118 days in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Lust, Caution is AngÕs noir masterpiece. Focus FeaturesÕ James Schamus agrees. After the Los Angeles premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, Columbia-TriStar vice-chairman Sony PicturesÕ Gareth Wigan noted he now ranks Lust, Caution among his ten favorite films of all time. Others include Citizen Kane, SinginÕ in the Rain, Lawrence of Arabia that we both believe must be seen on the big screen. (Gareth informs that director David Lean completed filming in July and had the film ready for release in November!) ÒWe interviewed 10,000 actresses for Tang WeiÕs role, narrowed it down to l,000. I knew right away that 21-year-old Tang, whose first film this is, was the one, she had the face,Ó says Ang. ÒTang was born in Hangzhou, the beautiful city near Shanghai, modeled during her teens, performed in stage plays and in a telefilm in China. Tony Leung, of course, is a cinema icon in Asia. Their chemistry was everything I hoped for. IÕd read Eileen ChangÕs novella some years ago, always wanted to make it into a movie. She revised it for years, returning to it as a criminal might return to the scene of a crime. No love story of hers is as beautiful or as cruel as this, an erotic espionage thriller. It begins in 1942 Shanghai during the World War II Japanese occupation, and the title doesnÕt just refer to love and sex, but to life and art. Lust for life, caution in society. A human being finds herself in a situation beyond her control, but takes ownership of it -- all from a womanÕs point of view.Ó Look for Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress. Early on, Oscar predictions surfaced that Cate Blanchett will be nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, an historical epic told in an iconoclastic and contemporary way accessible to a modern audience. Cate commands the screen, and when an adoring young man approached her during UniversalÕs premiere at the Gibson Amphitheatre, he sighed. ÒYou were robbed of the Oscar with your first Elizabeth.Ó Cate chuckled, ÒMy mom may agree with you,Ó as the fan replied, ÒNow, itÕs time to play catch-up.Ó Geoffrey RushÕs performance as Sir Francis Walsingham is of Best Supporting Oscar caliber. And Shekhar KapurÕs direction is Oscar-worthy, an opulent recreation of the Elizabethan era and one womanÕs crusade to control love, crush enemies and secure her position in the Western world. Classy, sassy and sexy describes the choreographic and directorial genius of Tony Charmoli, whose credits are legion. TonyÕs won Emmys, Tonys and who knows how many other awards. Having directed televisionÕs Your Hit Parade during the Õ50s to the supercharged Mitzi Gaynor, Cher, Julie Andrews, Shirley MacLaine, Danny Kaye, Dinah Shore, Lily Tomlin, Mikhail Baryshnikov musical variety specials during the Õ60s, Õ70s and Õ80s, TonyÕs immeasurable talents were acclaimed. Many maintain heÕs influenced Chicago director Rob Marshall. Last week, our Professional Dancers Society bowed to Minnesota-born Tony during their annual dinner at the SportsmenÕs Lodge in Sherman Oaks, where philanthropist Joni Berry welcomed the 500-plus guests, with the funds assisting dancers in need. When we think of how tough a dancerÕs life is, the rigorous training and harsh demands on the body, the punishing rehearsals for the high-spirited entertainment, they find the work not as easy as the years pass them by. Wonderful that our Good Samaritan showbusiness community lends an ear and extends a hand. You couldnÕt have asked for more fun, with Charmoli dancers hoofing it. Gypsies, as dancers call themselves, passing on the Gypsy coat of a thousand colors with its dangling underwear from Jerry Trent to Jerry Antes. A special Billy Barnes number wowed the audience. Recollections poured forth from Florence Henderson and Nanette Fabray. And Ava Astaire and Dick McKenzie discussed TonyÕs artistic bent with brush and canvas Ð his paintings were initially exhibited at DickÕs then-gallery in Los Angeles. Clips galore were screened from TonyÕs Broadway and Hollywood triumphs, before Madame President of the Professional Dancers Society Mitzi Gaynor, in her Balenciaga blouson, kick-assed the crowd with laughs as she introduced Tony. Who knew Mitzi is a stand-up comic? Tony regaled all, dipping into his priceless trove of anecdotes. Here and there (alphabetically) were Milan Adam, Neile Adams, Ray Aghayan with Bob Mackie, Toni Basil, Billy Barnes, Marc Breaux, Roxanne and Jack Carter, Joe Cassini, George Chakiris, Claire Charmoli, Joan and Norm Crosby, Pat Crowley, Carol DeLuise, Kathy and Richard Eichenbaum, Reid Eichenbaum, Gloria and Mike Franks, Alix and Budd Friedman, David Galligan, Kip Grimm, Tom Hatten, Carl Jablonski, Marilyn Katleman, Shirley Livingston, Skip E. Lowe, Webb Lowe with Ruta Lee, Martha and A.C. Lyles, Ginny Mancini, Emily and Jerry Mayer, Sandra Moss, Dolores Nemiro, Dale Olson, Marvin Paige, Shane Rosamonda, Carl Reiner, Rene Reyes, Debbie Reynolds, Helen Rosen, Alton Ruff, Edye Rugolo, Jane Russell, Jane Wooster Scott, Bunny Stivers, Joe Tremaine, Lynn von Kersting with dancing daughter India. We discovered that Tony CharmoliÕs sister Nell reached the birthday milestone of 100, with Tony assessing, ÒWe thank our freezing-cold Minnesota wintersÉ they keep us strong.Ó Online at www.bhcourier.com.