by Joseph Rossi
Spike Lee’s remake of the 2003 cult hit Oldboy isn’t in the same league as the original film but proves to be entertaining enough for a night out at the movies. That is if you like your movies dark, demented and seriously messed up.
Josh Brolin plays a sleazy ad executive named Joe Duceppe who ends up locked up in a room for twenty years by some mysterious figure from his past. His only connection to the outside world is a TV. During his time he views crucial events that defined America as well as news that’ll define him, the rape and murder of the mother of his child. Authorities believe it to be Duceppe, who to them, has vanished. Devastated, he makes a pact with himself to sober up and get into shape, believing one day that’ll he get out. And he does. He goes on a quest to find and make amends with his child as well as try and discover who put him away. Along for the ride is Marie (Elizabeth Olsen), a nurse and one time junkie who befriends Joe, Samuel L. Jackson as a sinister security agent and Sharlto Copley as an eccentric millionaire.
Now I did like the film. I got involved with these characters. I just don’t see the point in remaking recent movies. Like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the originals are too fresh in people’s minds. Was this film a cash grab looking to capitalize on the first films success? Of course. Was Lee a director for hire? Yes. Filmmakers like Spike Lee have to sometimes take the paycheck so they can make more personal films. And more power to him. We need Spike Lee. Despite recent bad box office, his films are still worth a look. They offer an actual voice to whoever wants to listen. That’s worth more then your average zombie or superhero film remake. Just don’t remake Malcolm X or Do The Right Thing. Then we’ll have problems.
