Review by: Andrew Chan FCCA AACTA FIPRESCI
Review Date: 27th February 2013

Directed by: Spike Lee
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson

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I am not entirely sure how anyone can write a review on “Oldboy” without drawing comparisons. However, I will try my best not to. The reason being is that the two are very different films. Spike Lee’ remake of Park Chan-Wook’s greatest piece of cinema is in many ways like Hollywood, straight forward, entertaining, but ultimately filled with a sort of emptiness when the audience leaves the cinema. In fact, there is nothing thought-provoking about Lee’s work and while it is entertaining and even engaging during its duration, everything is presented to the audience at face-value. That’s not to say that “Oldboy” is a bad film, as it is clearly well-produced, well-shot and even adequately acted, but it lacked a sense of mystery, a purpose, an outcome and a lasting effect that made the original an all-time classic of the genre.

Josh Brolin tries hard to embrace the role, but there are crucial moments that just never seem to convince. Brolin lacks any sort of chemistry with his much younger co-star Elizabeth Olsen. In fact in the steamy and much publicized sex scene seems rather unconvincing as the audience focuses on the physical side, rather than any emotional attachment. Olsen is one of my favorite rising actresses in recent years, as she has shown in “Liberal Arts”, there is a certain natural flair and attractiveness about her that works well with audience. However, she is clearly wasted in a non-existent role where the highlight is frontal nudity and sex scenes.

All in all, “Oldboy” is a classic American genre film, where it does not pushes any boundaries and appears to be film that is made for the general public. I wouldn’t go on and claim that Spike Lee’s purposefully dumbed down the level of intelligence by not using the show not tell principle to better effect. Comparisons to an all time classic will always be undeniable, but perhaps, if “Oldboy” is a totally different film, it will be evaluated with much kinder words. It is probably safe to say that the latest remake is brutally entertaining, graphically highlighted and decently directed, but ultimately leaving the audience with an empty note. See the original. (Neo 2014)

I rated it 6/10

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