Writer: Lorraine Tan

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Watch this if you liked: “Oldboy (2003)” and “Sin City”.

A remake of the 2003 South Korean vengeance thriller, "Oldboy" is based on the Japanese graphic novel of the same name. This is a film directed by Spike Lee, which stars Josh Brolin (Joe Doucett), Elizabeth Oslen (Marie) and Sharlto Copley (Adrian Pryce).

Joe, an advertising executive, is kidnapped by an unknown association and is locked up in solitary confinement for 20 years. He has no clue what has happened until he is released and he is determine to find out who locked him up.

It may seem daunting to remake a cult classic but director Spike Lee steps up to the challenge. Instead of duplicating the 2003 film, it depicts his interpretation of the cult film. The film reflects Lee's usual style - unafraid, creative and refreshing.

Veteran actor Josh Brolin's performance is believable and entertaining. The devoted actor gained 50 pounds (about 23kg) in order to play the alcoholic Joe. And lost it all in just 2 days! His rugged features and muscular yet flabby build is a perfect match to his character, Joe. However, probably due to the fact that storyline is derived from a Japanese manga, the fight scenes do seem to have a slight sense of comicality and can be exaggerated at times, especially the violence.

Rising starlet Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of the Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen, plays Marie, a young social worker that struggled with past addictions and unhappy childhood. Olsen was cast thanks to her impressive performance in her previous film, "Martha Marcy May Marlene". She puts in a similar impressive performance, but one that just falls short of an A-list standard.

However, to the avid fans of the original version, and the manga, it might be unfair to call this a "remake" but it should rather be seen as a "reinterpretation" of the film.

Entangled with twisted and provocative family relationships, strange encounters and suspense, "Oldboy" is a disturbing, violent film that may be too much for the general audience. Watch if you are a fan of Spike Lee or the original movie.


Cinema Online, 25 November 2013