Ang Lee is a brilliant Oscar winning director who has taken big chances with the content, subject matter and technical requirements for the films he has brought to the silver screen. Cinematography, set design, art direction, costume and music have been been major creative ingredients in Lee’s films. Three of his movies that have set a new standard for filmmakingare undeniable masterpieces. In celebration of his recent Oscar wins for “Life of Pi” here is a look back at his most remarkable achievements in filmmaking; Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).

“Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” (2000) is a subtle masterpiece from director Ang Lee. The content of the film is at first light hearted but we are introduced into a world of grey matters. No one knows when the assassin or bandit will strike. The true tale  of training and battle, all encompassed by a traditional, tragic love story. So it becomes a story of dangerous flying swords that ultimately kills love. Items and props in the film resonate with a Tarantino flick.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classic

The ominous Marsellus Wallus box is juxtaposed by an ancient warrior’s sword (which has been placed in a box) and this scene is the trigger for action and moral conflict. The film becomes much more than the genre’s acrobats and martial art sword fighting and is transformed into a spiritual journey, a beginning or an end, the viewer does not yet know. Blink for a moment during the film and one sees or may miss the hidden dragon, for the speed and accuracy of the film editing is spellbinding.   

-Ottaviano Romano

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classic

Winner 4 Oscars, 92 other nominations, 87 wins

Director: Ang Lee
Writers: Du Lu Wang (book) Hui-Ling Wang (screenplay)
Cast: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Lo ‘Dark Cloud’

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classic

Oscar wins: 2001

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: (Timmy Yip)
Best Cinematography: (Peter Pau)
Best Foreign Language Film: (Taiwan)
Best Musical Score: (Tan Dun)
Grammy (2002) Best Score Sound track Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media
Winner 8 Hong Kong Film Awards
3 Independent Spirit Awards
People’s Choice Award (Ang Lee)

Life of Pi 2012 Winner 4 of Oscars

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Best Achievement in Cinematography: Claudio Miranda
Best Achievement in Directing: Ang Lee
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Picture, Original Score: Mychael Danna

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

“LIFE OF PI is an immersion into the world of imagination – one so powerful, so deeply transformational, that it stands as a cinematic monument to the power of storytelling. Navigating Yann Martel’s beloved novel with David Magee’s script as guiding star, director Ang Lee proves himself a virtuoso of the versatile in a world so rich and so real that only the miracle of 3D in the hands of a master could put it all into proper perspective. At journey’s end, audiences are left to ponder an adventure so life-affirming and a reality so true that they would never dare doubt Dorothy ever left Kansas”.     IMDB

Check out our posting on Life of Pi at NYFF 2012.

Brokeback Mountain 2005 winner 3 Oscars:

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Best Achievement in Directing: Ang Lee
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Picture, Original Score: Gustavo Santaolalla
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

“BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is one of the great love stories in American film. The revolutionary subject matter paints a portrait of passion, longing and loss against the sweeping backdrop of the changing American West. The film is a triumph of acting - Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal bring power and poignancy to two people caught in an emotional maelstrom, without the means to understand their feelings, or the words to express them. The film is a tragic meditation on loneliness, and yet a powerful celebration of friendship and love beyond our control.”   IMDB