Oldboy (2003)

- written October 2005

Summary: Oh Dae-Su has just been arrested by the police for being disorderly and drunk. He’s released from jail on his own recognizance but during a phone call to his wife, on the day of his daughter’s birthday, he vanishes. 15 years later, he is suddenly free from capture. He had been imprisoned all this time with nothing but a television to keep him company. No interaction with any other humans, no one to talk to nor any knowledge why he was there. Now released, he is given a phone and some money, and soon given instructions that he has 5 days to find out why he was kidnapped…or else he’ll die without any knowledge. Oh Dae-Su realizes that he’ll need help and gets it with a nearby restaurant chef. And so begins the next 5 days of his life.           Overall: To say I really enjoyed this film would be an understatement. Great story, great plot, great acting, great dialogue. And I’m not the only person who really enjoyed this film. Now that’s not to say it seems like the secrets that this film revolves around might seem petty, silly or over exaggerated. But I do think the film worked through everything well and really showed the effects on the abductor and their family. And even if we don’t think this could have happened the same way to us, frankly, it still works for the abductor and their situation.           I think some of what makes this film so tremendous is the gore and violence. It’s not the presence of those elements, but the use of them. The fight in the hallway of the apartment building using one continuous shot is clearly the best scene in the film. It’s so compact, realistic and just a pure showing of rage and reaction. Brilliant stuff her. Don’t miss this film.           Comparison: The Count of Monte Cristo meets Project A

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