Director
Spike
Lee's
Oldboy
is
a
dramatic
revenge
saga
of
a
man
who
is
abducted
and
held
captive
for
20
years.
It
is
a
remake
of
the
2003
South
Korean
film
of
the
same
name,
directed
by
Park
Chan
Wook.
Story
The
film
starts
off
in
an
obscure
Chinatown
area
in
America.
The
unsteady
camera
before
zeroing
in
on
Joseph
Ducet
(Josh
Brolin)
an
unimpressive
advertising
executive,
pans
to
a
placard
that
states,
'Guns
don't
kill,
people
do'.
This
lays
the
foundation
of
the
mystery
thriller.
The
first
few
scenes
establish
Ducet
as
an
absent
and
uncaring
father
and
husband,
a
loser
of
an
employee
with
bad
business
tactics
and
an
alcoholic
to
the
core.
On
the
eve
of
his
daughter's
third
birthday,
drunk
Ducet
is
unsuspectingly
kidnapped
by
a
mystery
woman
with
a
yellow
umbrella
and
confined
to
a
soulless
room
with
just
a
television
set
for
company.
While
in
captivity,
he
realises
that
he
has
been
framed
for
the
murder
of
his
wife.
He
is
soon
physically
and
mentally
devastated.
And
just
when
he
hits
rock
bottom,
through
a
television
programme,
he
learns
that
his
daughter
is
taken
good
care
of
by
some
adoptive
parents.
So,
he
decides
to
write
letters
to
his
daughter
to
share
his
perspective.
He
also
decides
to
become
a
better
person.
He
works
out
physically
and
plots
an
escape.
But
before
he
can
execute
his
plans,
he
is
once
again
mysteriously
released
without
any
rhyme
or
reason.
Naturally
obsessed
with
seeking
revenge,
he
embarks
on
his
mission
with
Chucky
(Michael
Imperioli)
an
old
friend
and
Marie
(Elizabeth
Olsen)
a
social
worker
with
the
Holy
Sisters
Mobile
Hospital,
trying
to
figure
out
who
is
the
person
behind
his
ordeal
and
why
he
had
to
endure
such
treatment
for
such
a
long
period.
As
he
investigates
the
dark
underworld,
he
soon
discovers
that
that's
exactly
what
his
aggressor
wants
him
to
explore.
And
that
is
what
keeps
you
hooked
to
the
very
end.
Performances
Josh
Brolin
as
Ducet
is
pretty
much
convincing
on
the
emotional
front
but
regarding
his
physicality,
his
ageing
process
and
vigour
is
sometimes
questionable.
His
pain,
tribulations
and
anguish
in
overcoming
his
problems
is
systematically
mechanical.
Elizabeth
Olsen
as
the
charming
and
lovable
social
worker
is
pleasant,
you
feel
for
her.
The
villains,
Sharlto
Copley
and
Samuel
Jackson,
give
an
eccentric
but
effective
performance.
Cinematography,
Editing
Visually,
the
film,
stylishly
shot
by
cinematographer
Sean
Bobby,
is
intriguing.
He
has
effectively
used
blue
and
red
lights
to
create
an
enigmatic
aura.
What
gives
an
edge
to
the
viewing
experience
are
the
excellently
executed
top
angle
shots.
Also
noteworthy
are
the
effective
flashback
scenes
at
the
climax.
Director
Spike
Lee
has
taken
pains
to
make
the
climax
more
intensely
melodramatic
and
satisfying.
While
the
set
up
and
climax
of
the
film
are
engaging
and
crisp,
there
are
parts
scattered
in-between
that
are
sloppily
and
haphazardly
packaged.
This
gives
the
film
tinges
of
cartoonish
undertones.
Verdict
Overall,
Oldboy
with
a
distinct
unconventionality
and
bizarre
nature,
is
a
well
attired
but
cold
and
emotionally
reserved
film.
Worth
a
watch
if
you
have
not
seen
the
original.
Cast:
Josh
Brolin,
Elizabeth
Olsen,
Sharlto
Copley,
Samuel
L.
Jackson,
Michael
Imperioli,
Max
Casella,
Rami
Malek
Director:
Spike
Lee
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