Oldboy (2013)

Obsessed with vengeance, a man sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for twenty years without reason.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Garon Tsuchiya (manga), Nobuaki Minegishi (manga)

Stars:

Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Brolin	...	Joe Doucett
Elizabeth Olsen	...	Marie Sebastian
Sharlto Copley	...	Adrian / The Stranger
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Chaney
Michael Imperioli	...	Chucky
Pom Klementieff	...	Haeng-Bok
James Ransone	...	Dr. Tom Melby
Max Casella	...	James Prestley
Linda Emond	...	Edwina Burke
Elvis Nolasco	...	Cortez
Rami Malek	...	Browning
Lance Reddick	...	Daniel Newcombe
Hannah Ware	...	Donna Hawthorne
Richard Portnow	...	Bernie Sharkey
Hannah Simone	...	Stephanie Lee

Storyline

An advertising executive is kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his punishment, only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.

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Plot Keywords:

father daughter incest | incest | male nudity | female nudity | cctv camera | 

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Taglines:

Ask not why you were imprisoned. Ask why you were set free.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, disturbing images, some graphic sexuality and nudity, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official tumblr

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oldboy

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$885,382, 27 November 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,193,658

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,186,767

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Universe, Vertigo Entertainment, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point, Joe (Josh Brolin) looks at an octopus swimming in a tank at a restaurant and walks away, a nod to the infamous octopus scene from Oldboy (2003).

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Goofs

When reviewing the Evergreen Academy letters, the daughter's last name is spelled incorrectly - Amanda Price instead of Amanda Pryce.

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Quotes

Chaney: I swear, I don't know nothin'! I swear before God and eight motherfuckin' white people!

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Connections

Featured in Film 2017: Episode dated 3 December 2013 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Mia Cello 3
Written and performed by Bruce Hornsby

User Reviews

Better than reviewed.

I admit, I watched this film with half a mind on the original and hence it should have been doomed before the opening credits had rolled by. Reading various other reviews, the film was never going to be a hit with the so called "connoisieur" However, once I got over my own pomposity, I was pleasantly surprised and, admittedly with a nod to the original, don't think a much better job of a remake could have been managed.

The remake is not as good a film as the original. That out of the way - as a stand alone and to the viewer who does not know about the 2003 film, this is very good viewing.

The fight scenes were entertaining. Acting good. Good pace. Story good. Basically,nothing bad. I actually thought the photography better than the original. (I also liked the nod to the original's octopus).

In summary, if you have seen the original you are always going to be judging one against the other and Korea will win. Also dismiss me as a Philistine but I don't enjoy subtitled movies as much as English speaking ones. I don't have the intellect to understand every (or indeed any) foreign film without having to miss half the cinematography reading.

If you haven't seen the original, watch this. It is good. It's just that some critics have got there heads so far up their .............!