Review of Oldboy (2013) by Ola G — 08 Jul 2015

In 1993, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) is an alcoholic advertising executive with no scruples or love for anyone else then himself. His constant drinking has gotten him into frequent trouble at work, and one day his ex-wife Donna berates him for missing his daughter, Mia's, 3rd birthday, which he brushes off. Later that night, he ruins a meeting with a highly potential client, Daniel Newcombe (Lance Reddick), by hitting on his girlfriend. Knowing that he will likely be fired for his failure, Joe gets drunk, and goes to a bar owned by his friend Chucky (Michael Imperioli), who refuses him entry. While stuck outside, he spots a woman with a yellow umbrella, before passing out. He awakens in an isolated, locked hotel room, and finds that he is being held prisoner. His captors provide him with basic hygiene items and meager portions of processed Chinese food, along with a pint of vodka with every meal to prevent withdrawal, but do not provide reason for his imprisonment. Through a news bulletin on the TV in the room, Joe learns that Donna has been brutally raped and murdered, and he is the prime suspect. He also learns that Mia has been adopted. After being prevented from committing suicide, Joe starts writing Mia letters, gives up drinking, and spends the next 20 years planning his revenge. He gets in shape, becomes a skilled boxer by watching televised matches, and compiles a list of everyone who might be responsible for his imprisonment, with Newcombe being the prime suspect. In 2013, Joe watches an adult Mia being interviewed by a TV show called Unresolved Mysteries of Crime, and claiming she could try to forgive him if he returns. Suddenly, he is drugged and awakes in a box in a field, with money and a cell phone. He spots the woman with the yellow umbrella, whom he chases to a nearby clinic; there he meets Marie Sebastian (Elizabeth Olsen), a nurse who offers to help him. Joe refuses help but takes her card. He later visits Chucky and tells him what happened. He suddenly receives a mocking phone call from the mastermind behind his imprisonment, The Stranger (Sharlto Copley). Joe finds himself still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment despite his release...

"Oldboy" is a 2013 American remake by Spike Lee of Park Chan-wook's 2003 South Korean cult film, which is based on the Japanese manga with the same name, published 1996-98. Spike Lee said that his version was 140 minute long (mostly character build-ups and interactions), but the studio heavily edited his film to 105 minutes. It received a mixed reception from both critics and audiences, with praise towards the acting and visual style, but criticism for the comparisons to the original and adding nothing new to the film. The film was a box office bomb, being one of Lee's worst-performing films of his directing career. I did pass on "Oldboy" the original when it came out, party because I´m not really that into asian cinema and I reckon I felt a tiredness towards the graphic violence in it. I took however the decision to see what Spike Lee had done with his version and maybe that would spark an interest to see the original. I like the storyline and during the screentime it wasn´t certain where the film would go, and that is something I like as well. But, from what I understand this is as well just a simple rehash of the plot from the original film, but it quickly rushes through the unique storyline unable to establish an emotional connection with the audience. It´s hard to compare the two versions as I haven't´s seen the original, but I do however think that the remake feels lost in the original and it can´t stand on it´s own legs which creates a movie that is unstable and not its own entity despite the rather "unique" plot. And felt it was a bit too cartoony in it´s setup. And even if Brolin seems to have given everything he´s got in the title role, he still doesn´t fully convince me at least. The one who does convince is the lovely Elizabeth Olsen as Marie. She adds female emotional warmth and beauty to the script. She is for sure a new favourite of mine after this movie. Spike Lee´s "Oldboy" is ok, but I will hold on to more of my thoughts until I have seen Park Chan-wook's original.