Oldboy (2003/2005)
Do not be fooled by the awful title
of this Asian film. "Oldboy" is one of the most amazing,
mind-boggling, cool, and creative films to see the
light of day since "Pulp Fiction." This is a film
that constantly amuses, amazes and surprises the audience.
And though comparisons to Tarantino come easily, this
is no rip-off or homage. Not at all. The references
to the American director only come because, like Tarantino,
filmmaker Chan-wook Park here has the capacity to
surprise and invigorate his audience by taking them
into formerly uncharted territory while somehow managing
to maintain a healthy homage to all the story and
cinema that has come before it. This is not a cool
film because it is artsy or innovative as much as
it is fresh and amazing because it takes all our expectations
for a film such as this and then delivers on them
in new and uniquely original ways that simply never
fail to delight.
The creativity and flow of the film
is evident from the very first scene. Using a quick
cut, choppy, seemingly cinema verite style to set
up the character and plot of the film, Park provides
us not only with an interesting vignette, but a jumpstart
on a stylistic endeavor. We experience much of the
story in pieces, but then, so does the main character.
And since we are witnessing a drunken man being restrained,
we see the story in the flashes that the character
does, reminding us of the flashes of our own inebriated
evenings, ones we sometimes only remember in flickers
and bit and pieces.
But to give away to much of the
plot here would spoil this remarkable film. I walked
into "Oldboy" knowing only that it was an Asian film.
I'm so glad I knew nothing at first. This is a film
so full of mind-blowing surprises when it comes to
plot and plot twists that knowing anything ahead of
time will spoil the film too much. Hell, even knowing
the somewhat "slang" meaning of the awful title in
advance of seeing the film reveals too much. Trust
me. Just see this film. When you see it, you'll see
what I mean. And even though you'll allow yourself
to assume that you know where the film's plot is going
at times, you'll consistently be surprised by the
plot turns here. The film is a mystery, a puzzle that
is solved by the main character as we watch but the
pieces are never the neat little jigsaw cut segments
that we expect. At every turn a surprise awaits us
and it is always not only amazing and cool, but also
realistic and feasible, making the film even more
outstanding. In the vernacular of modern youth: This
film is tight. This film is sick!
For those who have seen the film,
some discussion is obviously desired because it is
such a great piece of work. You feel like an insider
when you see this film, like you know something that
the rest of the world doesn't. The rest of this review
will have some spoilers, so read at your own risk.
Min-sik Choi is amazing in the lead
role of Oh Dae-Su. This is a performance that shakes
the action hero stereotype to its core because it
requires the talented actor to not only be physically
adept but also a remarkable thespian. Think of the
amazing scenes in this film. The opening drunken escapade,
the remarkable hallway fight scene that practically
reinvents the genre mold, the final, amazing climax
which has the character going from bold and angry
to remorseful and subservient in an amazing transformation.
Choi is vibrant, captivating and amazing in every
single moment here.
Of course, he is surrounded by a
supporting cast that never, ever lets him down. There
are some wonderful and eclectic secondary characters
here and they all work to make this film the astounding
masterpiece that it is. No complimenting of the acting
in the film would be complete without mentioning Hye-jeong
Kang as the love interest and Ji-tae Yu, one of the
most handsome Asian men I have ever seen, as the villain.
This is an extraordinary cast.
"Oldboy" is one of the most inventive,
fun, cool and delightful films you will ever get to
see. You jaw will constantly be dropping open. Your
pupils will constantly be widening. You'll walk out
of the theater dazed and amazed. This is one film
in a million.
Notes:
In Korean with subtitles.
The film is based on a comic book.
The opening sequence was one of
the last to be filmed.
Filmed in Korea. The epilogue was
filmed in New Zealand
Part of a three film revenge trilogy
that Park has planned. One came before this and another
is filming. This film is slated to be remade in English
by Justin Lin, director of "Better Luck Tomorrow"
for a 2006 release.
Nominated for and won many awards.
Park won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 2004.
The film opened in Korea in November
2003 before appearing at Cannes in May of 2004. The
USA debut was at Sundance in 2005 and the USA arthouse
run began in March of this year.
Viewed at a press sneak at the Dobie
in Austin in April 2005, on the same day I saw "Kung
Fu Hustle."
