Thursday, November 28, 2013

Oldboy

A movie like Spike Lee’s Oldboy is destined to accrue a healthy amount of haters long before the film is released. Lee’s Oldboy is a remake of Park Chan-wook’s legendary Korean film of the same name, and in the decade since its release, Chan-wook’s film has developed cult classic-like status. The film has a loyal fan base who made it clear from the announcement of Lee’s remake that they simply were not interested.

And I get it. I fully understand the uproar over Lee’s film. Chan-wook’s Oldboy is a marvelous mystery thriller that needn’t be tampered with. But first off, it’s important to explain how Lee wants his film to be perceived. He’s stated many times (including when I heard him speak in person last February) that Oldboy was not a remake of Chan-wook’s film, but rather a reinterpretation of Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi’s source material, the Japanese manga, “Old Boy.” Interesting then, that in the opening credits for Lee’s film, we’re presented with a title card reading: “Based on the Korean film Oldboy.


When Lee’s Oldboy was announced, I deliberately ignored Chan-wook’s original. Although I’ve seen the film a few times, and even own it on DVD, I haven’t watched it in many years. I didn’t want to go into Lee’s film wondering why he cut this scene or added that one. The result was an experience mostly void of comparison. Sure, I remember the plot and twists and turns of Chan-wook’s film, but I’m not married to it in a way that forced me to scrutinized every aspect of Lee’s film. So as I walked out of the theater yesterday, content with what I’d seen, I realized this is the only way people are going to enjoy Lee’s film. By ignoring the original, you open yourself up to a pleasantly objective experience. Is Lee’s film better than Chan-wook’s? No, it is not. But is it a good film in its own right? Yes, certainly.

The beginning of the film introduces us to Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) a schlubby, boozy New York businessman barely keeping his life together. After blowing a particularly big business deal, Joe goes on a bender, stumbling drunk and aimless around town. He awakens the next morning in a small hotel room. A hotel room without a door, windows, or a phone. And it is in this room that Joe sits for Twenty. Fucking. Years. He has no idea why he’s here and when he’ll get out, so after a few years of self-pity, he starts to occupy himself constructively. He does yoga, lifts makeshift weights, gives up the sauce, and so on. Then, on one random bright and sunshiny day, Joe emerges from a large trunk locker placed in the middle of a field, and he spends the duration of the film trying to figure out his decades-long captivity.
Oldboy turns into a labyrinth tale of jealousy, trust and forgiveness (or the lack thereof) that begs to be seen onscreen. If you’re a diehard fan of the original, you may already have your mind made up about Lee’s film, and will thereby gain nothing from it. If you’re a fan of Spike Lee, maybe you’re hoping his Oldboy will offer you something new. Me? I marvel at Lee’s raw, unrestricted vision of the world, specifically as it relates to American failure and corruption. I was game to see if Lee could pull Oldboy off, but it appears that my interest has been met with bittersweet results.

I’ve seen every film Spike Lee has made, and I can tell you with complete confidence that Oldboy is the most unrecognizable Spike Lee film Spike Lee has ever made. Absent is the director’s distinct style – the varying film stock, the refreshing camera trickery, the bombastic musical score – sure, all of that is here, but it’s only available in brief glimpses (for example, blink and you’ll miss the use of Lee’s signature double dolly shot). But is this a legitimate criticism? Is it fair for me to disapprove of a film simply because it doesn’t feel like previous films made by its director? No, it’s not. Oldboy doesn’t feel like a Spike Lee Joint, but it’s an enjoyable enough film of its kind. Josh Brolin delivers a deliciously entertaining-turned-convincingly vengeful performance, while Sean Bobbitt proves again that he’s one of our finest living cinematographers. There’s plenty to appreciate about this Oldboy, but it’s up to you to decide if you give a damn to begin with. B

22 comments:

  1. Great review! The only version of Oldboy I have seen is the dub, and I thought it totally ruined it. I think I'm going to take your advise and watch this one first, then try to seek out the original subtitled version. That way I won't have to compare either.

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    1. Thanks! Oh god, that dub version is awful. Definitely ruinous. I'll be curious to hear what you think of the real original and Lee's remake.

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  2. I suppose I'm one of those who knew from the off that this wouldn't match Chan-wook's original but I was game for seeing what this one would bring to the table. I like the people involved, Josh Brolin I think has been on quite a roll in the last few years, Elizabeth Olsen is great in everything I've seen her in thus far, S.L.J. is always entertaining, and while I'm not a huge fan I do like Spike Lee.Unfortunately this was a huge let down for me. Perhaps it's because I hold the original to be one of the finest films released in the 2000s but this one just felt like Lee ripped out the guts of the original and replaced them with hollow replacements. While performances are all good (with S.L.J. I think having a blast, Olsen delivering a solid and convincing portrayal, and Brolin giving his best go at the character) the film just left me longing for the power that original blew me away with. I understand Lee claims this is a "re-interpretation" and since I haven't read the original source material I can't claim that he did indeed stick closer to it, but this one just blatantly takes scenes from the original film and butchers them (namely the well known hall-way fight scene which astounded me in the original and made me sick to my stomach in this one along with the tv set twist). Also, and this is nothing against Brolin, but as much as I like him as an actor and he seems to be a perfectly likable guy in real life - he isn't Choi Min-sik (who I believe is one of the finest actors working in cinema today). In my opinion I would give the original an A or A+ (because I'm a fanboy) and I would have to give this one a D+/C-.

    Also that double-dolly shot I did catch when it popped up and it did raise a grin on my face because I instantly thought back to your post on it!

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    1. I completely understand where you're coming from. Like I said, there is no way in hell die hard fans of the original are going to love Lee's remake. For me, my problems with this film are consistent with the original as well. Nothing major, just minor stuff. I think I'd give the original an A-.

      I wish that dolly shot was longer here!

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  3. This is the kind of film I can wait to see on Netfix and that screening will probably be perfunctory, much like the film itself. Sure, it may be a good film, but I can't help but think Lee's (and our) time would be better spent on an original project or at least an interesting commercial trifle (that long-rumored Inside Man sequel).

    The only real interest this film could have is if Lee used the plot as a launchpad for a pointed critique of capitalism or the American class system. It doesn't sound like he's done that. So, again, it may be a perfectly entertaining film, but it's certainly one I can wait and save $10+. (Good review, however.)

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    1. Lee definitely didn't use this material as a launchpad for anything, except to try and make a solid remake, void of his distinct style. It definitely feels like Lee did this one for the money, but hey, that's the game.

      Waiting for Netflix for this film isn't a bad idea at all.

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    2. It's not at all surprising this film flopped: A remake of a South Korean film that made less than $1M nearly a decade ago starring a non-star (Jonah Hex) and sporting an R rating. The only selling point, Spike Lee, is muted by the fact that the director apparently jettisoned all the qualities that make his films distinctive. The only audience that would eat this up, film nerds, is savvy enough to smell the mediocrity wafting from it.

      I don't usually care to discuss the commerce of film, but whichever studio exec signed off on this film needs to be fired/put on a shorter leash. Sure, risktaking is what makes the movie business exciting, but this project telegraphed failure from the get-go.

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    3. I wouldn't be surprised if that studio exec does it axed. Those people get fired at the drop of a hat. One bomb and you're gone. I obviously don't know the exact reasons why this film got made, but it smells of money all the way through. There really was no Spike Lee-ness in it. Damn shame.

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  4. Glad I read this review. For me, it was more that I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't more of what Lee brings to so many of his other movies, but still a credible remake in its own right. He makes some decisions here and there that differ from the original, but not in a way that ruins it or even spits on its legacy. However, screwing up the hammer scene was a bit of a problem for me, as that is by far one of the best scenes I have seen in the past decade or so. I know that's not something original to state, but it really was great and to see that potential squandered a bit here with a lighter-touch, it just didn't feel right to me. Either way though, better than I expected and thank heavens for that. Then again, I've always trusted that Lee would do the right thing (joke, I guess). Nice review bud.

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    1. What's interesting about that hammer scene is that Lee's version was longer and more technically difficult to pull off than the original. Instead of a straight hallway, Lee had Brolin going down three floors in a parking garage. Thing is, the studio made him cut it down. Goddamn shame. Also interesting that Lee didn't fight harder for the longer take, but I expect his payday on this one allowed him to be more welcoming of studio notes. Hoping that shot will make it on the DVD.

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  5. I'll probably watch this on TV as I'm sort of interested though I heard not much has changed in comparison to Park's film. Plus, I heard it isn't as shocking so I'll wait for it. I just have so much love for Park's film.

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    1. I don't think it's shocking, simply because we know what's coming. For instance, if I saw Lee's film first, Chan-wook's wouldn't shock me at all, you know? Still, waiting for DVD is fine here.

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    2. Good sir thevoid99 can I just thank you for the wonderful rec of The Go-Getter! As a lover of road films that one was definitely a nice surprise that I hadn't heard of before you mentioning it on here! Thanks again!

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    3. Shit, I still need to watch that!

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  6. All I wanna know is, does Brolin sing the school anthem? Because that scene made Choi Min-sik my hero, and I can't imagine anyone selling it like he did.

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    1. Nope. No anthem in this one. Lee wisely left that out.

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  7. I honestly don't give a damn if Hollywood remade this BRILLIANT film. However, it is destined to be hated due to the success and adoration of the original. I don't particularly want to see the remake, because I just don't see myself liking it nearly as much. But your 'B' does give me an incentive to go see it, simply because that makes it a worthwhile view.

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    1. I'm with you all the way here. I don't care that the remake exists, but I certainly didn't believe it would actually top the original. I'm not an uber fan of Chan-wook's film, so I think that allowed me to like Lee's version better.

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  8. The way I feel about the Oldboy remake is similar to the way I feel about the Carrie remake, what is the point?

    I like the original (not a 'die hard' fan), but that fight in the hall way is awesome and that twist still leaves be gawping like a idiot two years later. So, like you said, I will not be gaining much from watching it, but I believe curiosity will get the better of me when it is released for DVD.

    I've seen one Spike Lee film (the one with Clive Owen and Jodie Foster), what do you recommend?

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    1. I'd definitely recommend a DVD watch for Lee's Oldboy.

      As for Lee's filmography... he's one of my all time favorites. His A+ movies (in my opinion) are: Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and 25th Hour. He’s made some great documentaries as well, the best being: 4 Little Girls and When the Levees Broke. Happy viewing!

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  9. I probably won't get to this one in theaters, but I just watched the original last week. It's probably best to put some time between viewings, as you did. This looks like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake scenario all over again, which isn't necessarily a good thing. :/

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    1. Yeah, as much distance away from the original is best, because this one isn't nearly as good. I enjoyed my time with it while I watched it, but I doubt I'll ever see it again, you know?

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