CineTV Contest: My Favorite Director, Ang Lee

My Favorite Director

This week’s contest from CineTV is to discuss my favorite director. That is a tall order because there are so many to choose from! Also, in movies, the director’s job is often entangled with the producer’s job and yadda, yadda, yadda. However, putting all of that aside, I decided to discuss Ang Lee because he is definitely one of my favorites.

Ang Lee Bio

Born in Taiwan in 1954, Ang Lee’s films have achieved international acclaim, both in terms of popularity and with critics. He has been nominated for nine academy awards, and won three.

I find the story of his life interesting because it shows how failure can play an important role in defining who we become and our success in life. Ang Lee went to the high school at which his father was the principal. There was an annual exam for entrance to college/university, and passing this exam was the only way for a person to go to university. However, because he failed this exam twice, much to his father’s disappointment, he went into a three year program at the National Arts School, graduating in 1975.

After completing mandatory military service, in 1979, he went to the United Stated to study theater at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Because of his difficulties with speaking English, he turned his focus from acting to directing, and obtained his MFA in film production from the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University where he took classes with Spike Lee, among others.

If he had passed that entrance exam, it would have pleased his father, but it would have robbed the world of an amazing director. Also, the theme of challenging family relationships runs heavily through Lee’s work, and that was probably influenced by his own family experiences. Furthermore, had he been American, he might have become an actor rather than a director. It was in these failures – failure to go to university in Taiwan, and failure to become an actor in America – in these failures, he found his calling. I think there is a life lesson there.

Often, we are blocked in one way or another from pursuing our goals, and it is these blocks more than our original plan that come to define our lives. I remember Robin Williams, speaking of his own career, saying that when he told his father he wanted to be a stand up comedian, his father said, “Okay, son, but maybe have a backup career too like welding.” It was hilarious because the idea that Robin Williams could be anything other than a comedian seems ridiculous now. However, that is mainly because he followed who he was and became Robin Williams.

How many of us follow who we are? I often wonder if I have walked the correct path. Then, I wonder if it is even possible to walk the incorrect path – because, if we walk the path, it becomes our path, right? Why is this getting so philosophical. I came here to discuss Ang Lee. By gum, I shall do so:

What Movies Did He Make?

My favorite Ang Lee movie was his second film, “The Wedding Banquet” (1993). It was a collaboration with Hsu Li-Kong from Taiwan, and won the Golden Bear as well as being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. I was surprised about the latter because a lot of the movie was in English, but it was a great movie, and I won’t argue. His movies “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman,” and “Pushing Hands” were both definitely foreign language films, and both were truly excellent. He won a whole pile of awards. He probably had to put up a new shelf.

In 1995, I was astounded to discover that Ang Lee was directing “Sense and Sensibility.” I thought he had more sense than that. Ha ha. But, seriously, Ang! What do you have against “Sense and Sensibility,” Harlow? Everything!!!

Where do I even begin? First, I want to say that Ang Lee pulled it out of the fire and it was an amazing movie that I really enjoyed. However, I really hate Jane Austen. Yes. I said “hate.” I know some of you don’t like that word (but do you hate it? Ha ha.) Why do I hate Jane Austen? If you have to ask, I am not sure I can explain.

I certainly cannot say it better than the illustrious Mark Twain, so I shall quote him on the matter:

“Whenever I take up ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ I feel like a barkeeper entering the Kingdom of Heaven. I mean, I feel as he would probably feel, would almost certainly feel. I am quite sure I know what his sensations would be -- and his private comments. He would be certain to curl his lip, as those ultra-good Presbyterians went filing self-complacently along...

She makes me detest all her people, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reader detest her people up to the middle of the book and like them in the rest of the chapters? That could be. That would be high art. It would be worth while, too. Some day I will examine the other end of her books and see.”

Just in case Twain’s feelings on Jane Austen were not clear from the above:

“I haven't any right to criticise books, and I don't do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticise Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can't conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Everytime I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”

Oh, Mark Twain. Ha!

TL;DR I am not a Jane Austen fan.

The screenplay for “Sense and Sensibility” was written by Emma Thompson. I hate Emma Thompson almost as much as I hate Jane Austen. I feel as though Emma Thompson went to the “Eyebrows and Forehead School of Acting.” Clearly, early in her career, someone told her that moving her brow and eyebrows in novel ways is all that is necessary to carve out a successful acting career. It seems that they were not wrong. If someone gave Botox to Emma Thompson, that would be the end of her acting career. Until it wore off.

Therefore, imagine my astonishment when I enjoyed “Sense and Sensibility,” starring Emma Thompson, written by Emma Thompson, and based on the Jane Austen novel. I was prepared for the worst. I can’t even explain how Ang Lee salvaged it because I never felt emotionally involved in Austen’s novels, but somehow, he actually brought out the heart of the situation.

However, that is his genius. It is a subtle thing. He manages to find small, emotional stories, and somehow make them big enough to see on screen.

I enjoyed “The Ice Storm” (1997). I did not see “Ride with the Devil” (1999) about the American Civil War. Both were critically acclaimed, but neither was extremely popular. Then, in 1999, he made “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” It was a success, but, although I enjoyed it, in my opinion, it was not one of his best.

I think he excels more at smaller stories. When there is more action, I feel he struggles, which is interesting because I think this pattern is reversed with most directors. In 2003, Lee directed “Hulk.” Although there were parts of the movie that I found very touching, this movie was not a critical success, and I was disappointed by it. Financially, it was successful, but Lee considered early retirement after this movie. He was urged to continue by his father, interestingly.

Then, in 2005, Lee directed “Brokeback Mountain” after being quoted as saying “What do I know about gay ranch hands in Wyoming?” Despite the latter statement, he did an amazing job – allegedly. I have wanted to see this movie, but I have not seen it. Why not, Harlow? I don’t know. It came out 17 years ago. It was supposed to be good. It was directed by Ang Lee. So, why not? I think, honestly, it was because it was sad. I didn’t know the whole plot, but I knew it was going to be sad, and I went through a long, long time when I avoided sad movies and books, which meant avoiding a lot. Maybe it is time to watch it, though.

I did read the short story by Annie Proulx, but that was fairly recent. It was excellent, by the way. I strongly recommend it.

Lee then directed “Lust, Caution,” which received the Golden Lion award from the 2007 Biennale Venice Film Festival. I did not see this movie either. I only found out about it while researching this article. Now, I have to watch it. I must.

Subsequently, he directed, “Life of Pi,” which I also did not yet watch. I did not realize he had directed it. I read the book, but you know what they say – how reading the book is not the same as watching the movie. Honestly, the reason I did not watch the movie was that I was annoyed at the novelist, Yann Martel. I was irritated because Martel basically lifted the idea for his book and then turned around and insulted the writer he stole the idea from. Yuck, Yann. Not cool. Martel is Canadian, too. That sort of thing gives us a bad name. Even though it was unfair because the movie was not the book, I was so annoyed with “Life of Pi” by the time the movie came out that I gave it a miss. However, had I realized it was directed by Lee, I might have watched it.

Since then, Lee has worked on a couple of movie and television projects, but nothing really successful. I still think he might have a good movie or two left in him, however. We shall see. I feel as though he has often been, in a sense, the victim of his own success. When he makes a successful movie, Hollywood tries to give him a bigger budget and a movie with more action. However, those are the movies he tends to flop on.

Conclusion

The movies Ang Lee succeeds in are so much more subtle and focus on often very challenging and emotional interpersonal relationships. I don’t know how he manages to shine a light on family difficulties without his movies becoming dark or cumbersome. In fact, I find them light and uplifting, funny at times, and a wonderful portrayal of humanity.

I have always enjoyed Ang Lee’s movies, but I also find it fascinating how his journey as a director shows how we find our path in life. For six years, prior to his successes, Ang Lee was unemployed and being supported by his wife as he struggled to find his way in the film industry.

What I find interesting is that, had he not been denied entry to university and had he not gone through the difficulties that he did, he would not have found his career as a director. Furthermore, he would not have found his unique “voice” as a director without the challenges he faced throughout his life.

Much Love,

Harlow

P.S. My thoughts and heart go out to the people of Ukraine. My heart also goes out to all people in the world who are suffering in whatever way -- I have read some people who think we forget one crisis when we reflect on another, but, for me, at least, this is not true. I hope you can hold on until better days come. This post script might seem repetitive, but it is important to me that people don't imagine that I have forgotten their suffering. I wish we could live in a world where as few people as possible would suffer. Maybe no one.

“Too many people simply give up too easily. You have to keep the desire to forge ahead, and you have to be able to take the bruises of unsuccess. Success is just one long street fight.″

Milton Berle, Comedian

(This is one of my favorite quotations of all time.)

Image created by the author in Canva using background photo from Pixabay.