Oldboy – 2003
Posted by Scott on 11 Sep 2008 at 01:50 am | Tagged as: Obscure Films
Some films defy explanation. They can’t easily be categorized or placed in a specific genre. These movies are rare indeed, but they’re out there. Whenever I stumble-upon such a find I make a point to view it twice before passing judgment and writing a review. I first watched Oldboy a couple years ago and was completely blown away. I was so impressed I greedily stowed away the memory for fear it might be spoiled by a second pass. Well, I caught Oldboy a few nights ago and my opinion has not wavered. It is a masterwork and without question one of the best movies I’ve seen in the last ten years.
Oh Dae-su is an alcoholic loudmouth with a wife and little girl. After a nightlong bender, he wakes up imprisoned in a strange room. Unable to decipher the reason for his incarceration Oh Dae-su spends his days beating his fists against the walls and watching countless hours of television. Fifteen years pass before Oh Dae-su is released. He reenters society a bitter, hardened man. Soon after he meets Mi-do, a young female sushi chef. Mi-do takes him home with her and the two form an instant bond. But Oh Dae-su is consumed by vengeance and embarks on a violent vendetta to find his mysterious captor.
Oh Dae-su’s bloody mission leads him to Woo-jin Lee, the cryptic man responsible for his long confinement. Woo-jin Lee’s face-to-face meeting with Oh Dae-su is part of his master-plan, a plan that Oh Dae-su must unravel. Along with Mi-do, Oh Dae-su searches for why Woo-jin Lee chose to punish him. As he pieces the puzzle together he finds the answers he’s been seeking. A final confrontation at Woo-jin Lee’s penthouse apartment uncovers a devious plot that will force Oh-Dae su to deal with a fate far worse than imprisonment.
Director Chan-wook Park constantly keeps you guessing throughout this meticulous story. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, he slips in another detour. Precise pacing incites curiosity rather than frustration. We are aware a shocking climax is coming and when it does it fails to disappoint. Park’s choice to unleash the big reveal to Oh-Dae su and the audience simultaneously is absolute brilliance. The awe becomes that much more powerful. Min-sik Choi portrays the tortured Oh-Dae su with admirable gusto. Oh-Dae su plows through humanity like a crazed superhero bent on finding a truth all too painful. It is a memorable character and performance that rivals any I’ve EVER seen. I could sing this film’s praises for another two paragraphs but I won’t. Instead, just trust me and see Oldboy.
The trailer for Oldboy:
