OLD BOY

US, 2013, 105 minutes, Colour.
Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson,, James Ransone, Max Casella, Linda Emond, Pom Klementieff, Rami Malek.
Directed by Spike Lee.


Oldboy seems a strange choice for a film by Spike Lee. He has made a number of dramas including Inside Man and The 25th Hour. Interestingly, Oldboy has minimal attention to race issues, even with the presence of Samuel L. Jackson.

The film is an American adaptation and remake of what is considered a Korean classic, directed by Chan-woon Park (2003). Josh Brolin is the central character, a businessman who flirts and drinks, who offends clients, is under threat of being fired. However, he collapses in the street and finds himself confined to an apartment, accommodation, food under the door, A television set – where he is confined for 20 years. He keeps himself fit, is upset at accusations that he has raped and murdered his wife, is attentive to his young daughter who is a musician. Significant American events pass, including 9/11.

In 2013 he is suddenly released and is determined to track down who was responsible for his internment as well as to find his daughter. There are quite a lot of ironies in his search. He encounters a young woman who is volunteering medical aid and who comes to help him, is moved by reading the letters to his daughter, has a sexual encounter with him. He goes back to a friend of the past who helps get information. He finds the Chinese restaurant which supplied the food during his internment, follow someone to the headquarters of Chaney (Jackson) who was responsible for the apartments containing the interns.

He does receive a message from The Stranger (Shalrto Copley) who challenges him to find him and, if he does, to give him some diamonds and he will kill himself. In fact, this does happen – but The Stranger taunts Oldboy who tracks him down, and the stories revealed about the bullying of The Stranger’s sister for promiscuity, accusations that the father had relationships with both son and daughter. The Stranger hands over the diamonds and kills himself. However, The Stranger achieves something of a vicious revenge because the young woman who helped Oldboy is, in fact, his daughter.

He sends his daughter diamonds and goes back into confinement in the apartment.

Spike Lee’s original cut was much longer and Lee expresses some dissatisfaction with this shorter version.

1. A film by Spike Lee? His interest in the themes, the drama?

2. The remake of a classic Korean film? The status of the classic? Objections to it being remade? Its being transferred to the United States?

3. 1993, the young Joe Doucett, in the business world, his ambitions, brash, connections, threats to his job? At the restaurant, his flirting, his behaviour towards his guests, the reaction, his losing the contract? Wandering the streets, urinating, drunk, collapsing, seeing the woman with the yellow hat?

4. The apartment, his waking up, the layout, the accommodation, the delivery of the food, his initial reactions against it, the mystery, his staying 20 years, doing the exercises, becoming fit? The television showing the passing of the years through events like 9/11?

5. The television, the news, the story of his wife’s rape and death, his being accused? His daughter, her growing up? Music?

6. 2013, his suddenly being released? In the streets? Marie and the doctor, their work, the contact, her card, calling on her?

7. Going to his friend, Chucky? His character, loyalty, helping Joe with tracking down information? The information about the restaurant which served the food over the years? The encounters, the questioning?

8. Meeting with Chaney, his running the range of apartments and imprisonments? His character? Reaction to Joe, Joe and the violence?

9. With Marie, her sympathy, reading Joe’s letters to his daughter? Helping with the investigation? The phone call from The Stranger?

10. The gradual revelation is about The Stranger? The challenge for him to find The Stranger’s identity? The promise of the diamonds? Even the promise of suicide?

11. Joe and The Stranger meeting, his identity? The clues? Chucky helping with tracking him down? The Stranger and his hostility towards Chucky, violence?

12. The set up with the meeting? The Stranger as Adrian? Chucky and the school yearbook? The bullying in the past, Adrian’s sister bullied as promiscuous, the reputation of the father, the suggestion of sexual relationships with both son and daughter? The father’s death? The effect on the daughter?

13. Chaney, his presence, torture, accepting the money?

14. Marie, her devotion to Joe, the sexual encounter? The audience knowing before Joe that Marie was his daughter? The incest – and the revenge of Adrian because of the incest in his family? The revelation that the daughter on the television with her music was an actress?

15. Adrian, the gift of the diamonds, the fulfilment of his promise, his death?

16. The impact on Joe, the meaning and meaninglessness of his life, his sending the diamonds to Marie?

17. The arrangement and his decision to go back to be confined in the apartment?