Oldboy-2013

Director Spike Lee

Starring Josh Brolin

Scott’s Review #97

Reviewed July 8, 2014 

Grade: B-

Oldboy (2013) is a United States remake of the original South Korean film from 2003, telling the story of a successful advertising executive named Joe Doucett, played wonderfully by Josh Brolin.

He is mysteriously kidnapped and kept prisoner in a private one-room facility, where he is served the same three meals daily for twenty years, while framed for the murder of his wife.

Over the years, he keeps up with his daughter’s life through videos.

He is just as mysteriously released after twenty years and sets out to exact revenge on his former captors.

Brolin is charismatic and appealing in the lead role (kudos for his multiple nude scenes), and it is nice to see Michael Imperioli in an offbeat supporting role.

The premise is interesting, but it is the kind of film where everything is plot-driven, the villains completely manipulate events, and the film becomes implausible and, via flashbacks, reminds me of the CBS series Cold Case.

Forgetting that Brolin’s character becomes superhero-like and chiseled after twenty years in captivity, the film is a good, solid, fun thrill ride, and bloody at times.

It has aspects of a nice whodunit, a least a first.

It has so many plot holes that I lost count, but somehow it is enjoyable at the same time.

Oldboy (2013) is never boring and even unpredictable at times.

Many questions run through the viewer’s head. Who is the villain? What could the villain’s motivation be? Friend or foe?

The film is unrealistic and ludicrous at times, but also highly enjoyable.