Oldboy (2013) is a neo-noir action thriller movie directed by Spike Lee and released by FilmDistrict on November 27, 2013. The film revolves around the life of Joe Doucett, a man who was kidnapped and held captive for 20 years. After his release, Joe embarks on a mission to uncover why he was kidnapped and who was behind it. Along the way, he is aided by a volunteer woman who falls in love with him. Together, they uncover shocking and mysterious facts that Joe could never have imagined. This article discusses the movie’s synopsis and reviews, analyzing whether it is worth watching.
Synopsis:
The movie starts with Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin), an advertising executive, who is drunk and misbehaving with his client, leading to him losing the deal. While wandering in the rain, Joe meets a woman who helps him before he passes out. He wakes up in captivity in a room that resembles a hotel. He is given Chinese food and alcohol but has no idea why he is imprisoned. He sees news of his wife’s rape and murder and becomes the primary suspect while his daughter is given away for adoption.
For 20 years, Joe remains trapped, losing touch with the outside world and going insane. However, after seeing his daughter on TV, he decides to change his life. He stops drinking alcohol, exercises, practices martial arts, and writes letters to his daughter, describing what he goes through. Slowly but surely, he manages to dig a hole in the wall of the bathroom and tries to escape but to no avail.
In a surprising turn of events, he is gassed and wakes up in a box, from which he manages to escape in a deserted field. He follows a woman with a yellow umbrella, Marie Sebastian (Elizabeth Olsen), but refuses her help, taking only her card. He goes to a bar and tells his story to Chucky, the owner, and a stranger calls Joe on the phone, leaving him confused.
Joe seeks help from Chucky to find his captor through the internet. Joe then faints and is rescued by Marie, who nurses him back to health. They explore the Chinese restaurants that delivered the captive’s daily meals, and Joe begins his search for the person behind his captivity. Joe continues his search alone by eating detestable dumplings, leading him to the restaurant where he had dined before his captivity. There, he saw a man ordering many meals believed to be Chaney, and followed him on a stolen bike.
Joe kills everybody who attempts to stop him and tortures Chaney to get information on who ordered Joe’s captivity. Joe goes back to Chucky’s bar and confronts his captor, demanding answers. The captor blackmails him by threatening to kill Joe’s daughter unless Joe discovers who he is and why he kidnapped him. Joe must deliver a significant amount of money, a large diamond, and a confession of his wife’s murder, which the captor actually committed. Joe also has to commit suicide for his daughter’s freedom.
Joe and Marie team up to save his daughter, Mia, and stop his captor. Marie discovers that the ringtone on Joe’s phone is the theme song of the Evergreen Academy, leading them to the school, where they find the school’s librarian’s attendance list, revealing the captor’s name, Adrian Doyle Price, and his sister’s name.
Conclusion:
Oldboy (2013) is a well-made Hollywood adaptation of the movie’s original version, and Josh Brolin’s performance is commendable. It has a gripping plot, keeping the viewers hooked from beginning to end. The movie’s plot twists and turns are the ones that keep audiences thinking and guessing what’s going to happen next. Moreover, the action sequences are intense and thrilling, making it an ideal movie for action lovers.
In conclusion, viewers who love action and neo-noir mystery thrillers will find Oldboy (2013) engaging and entertaining. However, those who are not comfortable with graphic violence and torture may not find it appealing. Overall, the movie is worth watching, with its intriguing storyline and top-notch performances from its talented cast.
