"Oldboy" was released in 2003 and was directed by South Korean director Chan-wook Park. After being imprisoned for 15 years without being given any reason as to why, Dae-su Oh, is given 5 days to discover why he was held captive and seek revenge for his lost time.
THIS FILM IS TREMENDOUS. I cannot stress that enough. It's honestly one of the greatest films I have ever seen. It's plot is brillant, the acting is flawless, the cinematography is awe-inspiring and it takes you in it's grasp from start to finish and doesn't let you go. This film defiantly resonates with you long after you've finished watching it.
It's a mystery. The film is a puzzle that you are forced to put together along with the main character. At first it seems like a simple plot but it quickly thickens and thickens until the shocking climax. There are so many themes and motifs that flow throughout this film. I wish I could go into more detail but like I said, it's a mystery, and I wouldn't want to give anything away. Revenge is the biggest one I can name without revealing too much.
Now, this film does warrant a slight disclaimer. It's, for lack of a better word, disturbing. The themes that are raised are controversial and it can be difficult to watch at certain points. If you've ever heard someone talk about this film, they will tell you how violent and crazy it is. Well, craziness is definitely a factor here but violence is a different story. Yes, it is violent but it is stylized violence. Chan-wook Park leaves most of it up to the imagination.
I've seen this film many times and it never fails to leave an impact. I've also heard many people shun this film because they think it is popularized by violence and intense themes but I strongly disagree. This is a character film. Dae-su is dealing with losing his wife, daughter and 15 years of his life. Even the villain's narrative becomes a huge part of the film. The characters are what really shine here.
"Oldboy" is a film you MUST see. This film is highly regarded by critics such as Roger Ebert and even Quentin Tarantino. Despite being super controversial and stomach turning at points, I would recommend this film to anyone. To me, "Oldboy" has one of the best plots and is one of the best films of the last ten years. Go see it.
Till next time.
P.S. Spike Lee is currently working on a remake of this film. I'm not happy about this because why remake a film that is already flawless. It's basically just a way to americanize (just make some money) the film due to the popularity Oldboy is receiving in the U.S. Just let it be.
Here's the IMDB page:
Here's the trailer:
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