Plot Summary – Dae-Su is an obnoxious drunk bailed from the police station yet again by a friend. However, he’s abducted from the street and wakes up in a cell, where he remains for the next 15 years, drugged unconscious when human contact is unavoidable, otherwise with only the television as company. And then, suddenly released, he is invited to track down his jailor with a denouement that is simply stunning.

Original Title – 올드보이

Original Language – Korean

★★★★★ 

Watched 21 Aug 2023

It is very rare these days that I write full-length reviews for movies that are not new. I find this kind of funny since the point of my blog was to make people watch movies they would have otherwise missed, but I slowly turned it into every other film review website. I caught the 4K restoration of Oldboy in theaters today, and watching it for the first time, my initial reaction was “WHERE HAS THIS MOVIE BEEN ALL MY LIFE?”. It is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

The direction of Park Chan-wook is simply phenomenal. He helms every shot in an unconventional way and the way he moves the camera in certain scenes was downright breathtaking. The writing is also insane, the number of twists and narrative crescendos that the film has will have you on edge the entire time. The film manages to pull off the swagger and suaveness of a mass action flick with the intensity and mind-bending nature of a psychological thriller.

The brilliant direction and writing alone would not make this such an amazing film. Choi Min-sik plays the tormented lead with an unreliable memory so effectively as you see his path of vengeance. Playing opposite him, Yoo Ji-tae does a brilliant job and he is one of the most interesting antagonists that I’ve seen in a film. The connective tissue of the film is Kang Hye-Jung’s Mi-do whose tender and endearing performance makes the gut-punch of the film land.

Jeong Jeong-hun’s cinematography also stands out in this film, lending the film a distinct look. Its grimy visuals and contrasting shots are very reminiscent of Wong Kar-wai’s films and yet have their own charm to it. The score by Cho Yung-wuk is also amazing. It uses different styles of music and different instruments to constantly keep you on your toes as the vibe and tone of the film keep changing. The action choreography is also brilliant and the film doesn’t hold back on its gore.

Overall, I think this is an amazing tapestry of a film that combines a brilliant story with great acting, a resonant score, and some of the best directing I’ve ever seen in a film. I highly recommend this movie and think that you will especially appreciate it if you can catch the 4K version in theaters!