Our take
From Korean director Park Chan-wook, who also brought you the far quieter The Handmaiden, comes a movie that is positively terrifying. Its premise alone is enough for any sentient human being to shudder. On his daughter’s birthday, the good-for-nothing Oh Dae-su (played by Choic Min-sik) gets drunk and is arrested by the police. A friend eventually bails him out and, while he is making a phone call, Oh Dae-su disappears. Not knowing why, he is held in the same room for 15 years for no apparent reason. Until, one day, he is released. That’s all that can be revealed about this winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes in 2004 without giving away too much. All we can add here is the way we recommend Oldboy to people admitting to not having seen it yet: “Watch Oldboy. You’re welcome. We’re sorry.” A crazy, twisted film that goes to extremes. A cult classic and a statement.
What it won
Other
1 nom
The story
With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate man seeks revenge on his captors.
Elsewhere
"A lurid, complex, introspective beast, enacting astonishing cruelty on its protagonist like a slow-acting poison."
— Kambole Campbell
"Whether chomping down on a live octopus (in one of several scenes that require a strong stomach) or festering with half-crazed rage and impotence, Choi gives a bravura performance that powers the picture."
— Derek Elley
Absolutely fantastic movie. Acting and writing are well done, and the cinematography is on point. The use of long cuts during fight scenes keep you aware of what’s going on without sacrificing the intensity of the action. The plot is on you will have to wrap your head around, you may have to watch it twice, but that shouldn’t be a problem.