Old Boy (2003)

After getting drunk on his daughter's birthday, Oh Dae-Su is abducted off the streets and imprisoned in a small room for fifteen years with only a television set for company. The television scenes of political events passing just help to emphasize how small and insignificant Oh Dae-Su is within his cell. In this time his wife is murdered and he is set up for it. Rather than accepting defeat, Oh Dae-Su rebuilds himself and becomes a stronger man. He spends his time trying to break through the wall in his cell. After he is released, he meets a young chef, Mido and they set out to find the man responsible for the imprisonment.

The plot may sound similar to the Counte of Monte Cristo, or any other revenge story but Oldboy manages to put its own stamp on the old tropes. It helps that the protagonist, Oh Dae-Su is compelling to watch. He is a serious man who looks as though he is dead inside. He is simultaneously a tough guy and cool but also prone to depression and is not particularly in control of the revenge narrative. The scene where he eats a live octopus is obscene, but given how little gratification he has had for years, you can understand the urge to absorb life itself.

The supporting lead, Mido is also a well played character. Her interest in the older Oh Dae-Su appears to come out of nowhere. At first it seemed like the fantasy of a frustrated old male script writer, but I was surprised to find there was actually a good reason for this in the plot and one that makes you rethink their relationship.

The third major character is, of course, the target for the revenge, Lee, the man responsible for locking Oh Dae-Su up. On the outside, he appears a smarter, more sophisticated man, yet his backstory and obsession hint at something more monstrous.

The level of violence in this film is pretty high. Our protagonist undergoes plenty of pain and there's a pretty grim sequence at the end of the film. Yet at the same time there's a good sense of humour to the film. The director does a nice job. The uninterrupted fight sequence is a highlight The shot of our hero trying to save a man from suicide is neatly paralleled with the villain doing the same thing later on.

8/10