OLDBOY

OLDBOY

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this week from director Spike Lee and Film District comes a film that will challenge everything about OLDBOY.

This film tells the story of Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin), an egotistical man who cares nothing for others let alone his ex-wife and young daughter. Drinking and good times is what his life is about. That and hanging out with Chucky (Michael Imperioli), a long time friend who owns the local watering hole.

After a night of heavy drinking, Doucett wakes up in what looks like a hotel room. Looking around discovering quickly that he cannot get out. There is no handle on the door, no telephone and no windows anywhere in the room.

Watching television he discovers that police are looking to question him about a murder. Confused and angry time becomes an even bigger enemy. Just as he plans to escape, Doucett awakes again but this time in a field with a nice suit and an envelope with money and a cell phone.

Looking for anything familiar, he meets Marie Sebastian (Elizabeth Olsen), a young woman who wants to help him. Avoiding people he goes to the one man he does trust, Chucky introducing him to the internet and how to use a cell phone.

Enter The Stranger (Sharlto Copley), a voice on the cell phone puts a deal in front of Doucett involving his now grown daughter. Trying to discover why the voice chose to put him in a prison, the trail leads to Chaney (Samuel L. Jackson) who offers very little in the way of an answer.

Doucett and Marie begin a journey to find answers that takes them both into a past that will determine their future.     

FINAL WORD: Brolin as Doucett is definitely a man whose life needed a come-to-Jesus-moment. Haggard and drunk until that very religious moment hits is when the story really begins to spill its secrets. Brolin takes his rugged looks and dark eyes of anger and uses them wisely bringing Doucett into a life he just didn’t see coming.

Olsen as Marie is a wounded girl touched by her own upbringing and past choices. Trying to save someone else is always easier than trying to save yourself. It is a harsh reality that this character faces and Olsen gives it the haunting face of believability.

Jackson’s role is one of a man who has no problem doing unspeakable things so perhaps turn about is fair play in this case. It is difficult to talk about his role without talking in depth about the film. I won’t do that because every scene in this film must be experienced.

The clear winner here is Copley as The Stranger! From DISTRICT, THE A TEAM, ELYSIUM and THE EUROPA REPORT Copley runs the gambit of characters and always manages to surprise me. In this film The Stranger tore me apart. The calm demeanor of his character kept me on edge with a story I could never have seen coming.

Other cast includes: Pom Klementieff as Haeng-Bok, James Ransone as Dr. Tom Melby, Max Casella as James Prestley, Linda Emond as Edwina Burke, Elvis Nolasco as Cortez, Lance Reddick as Daniel Newcombe, Rami Malek as Browning, Richard Portnow as Bernie Sharkey and Hannah Simone as Stephanie Lee.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give OLDBOY four tubs of popcorn out of five. This is one of those films where the shock and awe is continuous throughout the film. Watching this film I tried to keep my composure but it was difficult. The brute and blunt trauma the story brings has me thinking by films end that this is either totally insane or totally brilliant!

My only moment of non-belief was the three level fight scene and let me tell you why. Brolin was fine – it was those around him that made me say ‘Really? My grandson can fight better than that!’ I don’t know what they were doing or what Lee was seeing through the camera lens but I didn’t buy any of that for a second!

Now that we’ve gotten the ugliness out of the way, plan to have your jaw hitting the floor, head shaking, eyes wide, and platitudes of ‘oh hell to the no!’ ready for uttering. This is not a film for those with delicate sensibilities that’s for sure.

It is a mind bending, thought shaking, senses shattering story and there is no preparation for it all. Perhaps that is what makes the film one that will be talked about for a long time to come.

In the end – ask not why you were imprisoned but why you were set free!