(Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
Hong Kong / China / Taipei (2000): Adventure / Drama / Action / Romance
Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.
The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. (Amazon.com)
10 nominations, 4 Awards
· Best Achievement in Art Direction 2000: Tim Yip, Art Director
· Best Achievement in Cinematography 2000: Peter Pau
· Best Foreign Language Film of the Year 2000: (China/Hong Kong/Taiwan) (Bill Kong, Hsu Li- Kong & Ang Lee - Producers)
· Best Achievement in Music (Original Score) 2000: Tan Dun
· Best Picture of the Year 2000: Bill Kong, Hsu Li- Kong & Ang Lee - Producers
· Achievement in Directing 2000: Ang Lee
· Achievement in Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) 2000: Wang Hui-Ling & James Schamus and Tsai Kuo Jung
· Achievement in Costume Design 2000: Tim Yip
· Achievement in Film Editing 2000: Tim Squyres
· Achievement in Music (Best Song) 2000: "A Love Before Time" Jorge Calandrelli & Tan Dun - Music; James Schamus - Lyric