Review of Oldboy (2013) by Marjeez Y — 31 Dec 2015

"Oldboy" (R, 1:44) is a terrible name for this movie because it tells you nothing about the film, but director Spike Lee took the name from the 2003 Korean version, so we can let it slide. Besides, you now have this review to tell you all about it. Who could ask for anything more? Well, a winning Powerball ticket would be nice, but failing that, I have a very twisty and twisted movie to review for you.

Josh Brolin is Joe Doucette, an ad man and a seemingly irredeemable schmuck. His wife calls him a joke of a husband and father, actually a fairly kind assessment of his character. After blowing off his daughter's birthday for work and then going on a bender, he wakes up in a strange room made to look like a hotel room, but with no windows and a locked door with a small hatch that only opens when a plate of food is slid into the room. And so Joe stays in this room - for 20 years! All there is for him to do is work out, watch TV and try to figure out why he's there and who put him there. Given his personal history, there are many potential culprits on the list. He actually does make a list and checks it - more than twice. When he's released as suddenly and inexplicably as he was imprisoned, he sets out to find his daughter and get revenge on the person responsible for his kidnapping, even as that person, via cell phone, taunts and threatens him. Along the way, he gets help from an old friend (Michael Imperioli) and a do-gooder nurse (Elizabeth Olsen).

"Oldman" is fascinating in its execution, revealing its many secrets over the course of the movie. When the reveals pick up speed towards the end, there are jaw-dropping surprises that will make your head spin. I thought the violence was a little over the top and didn't play as well as Lee obviously thought it would, but this is a very clever and very shocking movie, which is mostly VERY well-done. "A-".