Josh Brolin
Elizabeth Olsen
Sharlto Copley

Mark Protosevich

104 mins.
Action, Drama, Mystery
November 27, 2013

Rated R for strong brutal violence, disturbing images, some graphic sexuality and nudity, and language. (MPAA)

“Oldboy” (2013) is Spike Lee’s remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic of the same name by Park Chan-wook. Many people and critics praised the original, which was based on a Japanese manga, but I didn’t love it. It was fine (the violence was the best part). I feel almost the same about this remake or reimagining, whatever you want to call it.

Supposedly, Lee’s director’s cut was 140 minutes long, but it was heavily edited for American audiences by the producers of the film. Both Lee and Josh Brolin prefer Lee’s cut. As a result, this version is “A Spike Lee Film” instead of “A Spike Lee Joint.” The version released by the producers isn’t as intense as the original, which will disappoint a lot of the original film’s fans.

In this case, the man who’s kidnapped (played fairly well by Josh Brolin), blamed for the murder of his ex-wife, and kept in a spare room for 20 years is introduced as someone who might deserve that kind of treatment. You don’t side with him or even wonder why he would wind-up in such a predicament. (This is different from the original; you don’t know why the man would be treated that way during that film.)

When he’s released, he searches for the person responsible only to find himself a player in a perverse game by someone he harmed as a teenager. The game entails him figuring out why this person (played by Sharlto Copley of “District 9”) would do this to him. If he can figure out the right answers to this person’s questions, then he’ll be able to see his daughter, claim millions of dollars in diamonds, earn a confession of the murder of his ex-wife from this man, and live happily ever after.

He’s helped by a childhood friend (played by Michael Imperioli) and a young nurse (played by Elizabeth Olsen) who cares for the homeless. Of course, he falls for the nurse and she for him. But there’s a “twist” ending that perverts that relationship à la another film, 2012’s “The Samaritan (Fury),” that starred Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays the “keeper of the zoo” in this film. This “twist” was in the Korean original, as well; but in Lee’s version, it’s toned-down.

Here’s the truth: I just don’t like the story. I don’t like it here, and I didn’t like it there (the original). I don’t care at all about what happens; it’s just too shallow (maybe Lee’s director’s cut corrected this). On a positive note, like in the original, the fight sequences are really good.

Lee’s “Oldboy” starts off terribly, but sort of rights itself once the man is imprisoned and begins to cope with his situation. There’s no real reason to see this (or the original) unless you just want to watch a revenge film with a bit of stylistic violence. This will offend a lot of people, though. I guess you’ve been warned.

Verdict: OK

About: (Source: oldboy)

From director Spike Lee comes this chillingly dark tale of vengeance bursting with unforgettable twists and turns. Kidnapped and kept in solitary confinement for 20 years, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) has suddenly been set free without a word of explanation. Obsessed with finding those who imprisoned him, Doucett wreaks havoc upon his captors, unaware his freedom is part of a plan and his true punishment’s about to begin.