‘Lust, Caution’ takes Golden Lion at Venic

VENICE, Italy, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Director Ang Lee's controversial drama, "Lust, Caution," Saturday won the Golden Lion award for best picture at the Venice Film Festival.

It was Lee’s second Golden Lion in two years, following his victory in 2005 with “Brokeback Mountain.” This year’s award honored a film that contains explicit sexuality and was popular with audiences but received mixed responses from critics, Daily Variety reported.

Brian De Palma won the Silver Lion for best director for “Redacted,” based on a true story of the rape and slaying of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers.

Brad Pitt won best actor for his performance as Jesse James in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Cate Blanchett won best actress for her performance as Bob Dylan, one of six characterizations of Dylan in director Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There” -- which shared the special jury prize with “The Secret of the Grain,” from director Abdellatif Kechiche.