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Oldboy (2013)

In recent years, American cinema has turned its attention to the Far East for inspiration for films. Remakes of these foreign films have become very popular and include titles well known, such as The Ring, The Grudge, and The Eye. Of course I know that these are horror films, but Americans have remade some other films that maybe you did not know were foreign first like, The Departed, Scent of a Woman, and City Angels. The most recent foreign remake is Spike Lee’s version of the Korean film, Oldboy.

Joe Doucett is a bit of a jerk and everyone he knows is unanimous with this statement. However, someone believes this so strongly that they are willing to imprison Joe for twenty years inside a hotel room. For the first decade Joe has succumb to desperation and depression. That turns to determination to escape and find the people that did this to him. So when he is surprisingly freed, Joe wants nothing but vengeance. But what Joe doesn’t realize is that his incarceration is for a very real reason.

I hate to say this but this is another remake that I have failed to view to original. Maybe this is another case that it might be a good thing. The South Korean version is hailed as one of the best foreign films in recent years, so of course the remake might have taken away from the original. So with that being said, without seeing the South Korean, I can say that I actually enjoyed this film. I did feel that there could have been a little more to the film as the movie just seem to drag in the beginning and then explode in the latter half, then wrapped up really quickly. The action and tension throughout the film was very apparent, but on the same token, the answers to all the questions just seemed too simple. I guess I would have expected a little more because Joe was imprisoned for twenty years.

Josh Brolin does a decent job as the main character of Joe. The transition between helplessness and determination was seamless, but after he is released he just seemed clumsy at times. This is not because of the obvious lack of technological knowledge, but just of him looking and acting almost dazed. Elizabeth Olsen is Marie, who decides to help Joe on his “quest”. I think I would have liked to see more of her background to understand why she elects to help him so quickly. Olsen does do a good job with what little of the character that we are given. Sharlto Copley does it again, however. Copley steals every scene he is in yet again. Copley places the villain Adrian Pryce, the man who imprisons Joe for twenty years. His reasons… well let’s just say the reasons are much unexpected. Copley must embrace these villain roles because he is very good at them.

Spike Lee directs this American remake and does an admirable job. Lee uses a lot of close ups on Brolin and Copley to show the emotions that these characters are feeling without any dialogue. Lee also employs a few long takes to get the viewer immersed in the important places. This gives us the chance to take in the severity of Joes’ situation or the reveal to us what extents Pryce has gone to torture Joe. Lee also tries to use a little of the Asian influence in the movie, which I thought was good because at least Lee is honoring the original in his own way.

Oldboy is a respectable remake of the South Korean film of the same name. I will say that it isn’t Lee’s best, but if you would like to check out a Tarantino-esque type vengeance film, this movie will definitely suffice. Especially if you haven’t seen the original.

The Verdict: Worth Your TIme