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Health & Fitness

Movie Review - Oldboy

Oldboy ** (R) Spike Lee's gruesome remake of a Korean suspense tale puts Josh Brolin through an incredible ordeal. From his drunken self-indulgence in the early scenes, one might conclude he deserved what he got. But since it was 20 years of isolation under the watch of some anonymous entity, the punishment seems like overkill, as Brolin first descends into madness, then bounces back to avenge his fate. He learns via TV feed that his ex-wife was killed and that he was framed for it with planted evidence early in his confinement. His three-year-old daughter was adopted, and has grown up to be a fine young woman who believes her dad killed her mother, fled and has been hiding ever since. Brolin’s physical torment is considerable, but dwarfed by the emotional side.

When he is finally released, he begins looking for those who did this, hoping to re-connect with his daughter and prove his innocence. He’s aided by an old pal (Michael Imperioli) and a sympathetic social worker (Elizabeth Olsen), who believe his outlandish account of where he’s been. We eventually learn the who and the why of his fate, and the meaning of the title, in a denouement that’s bloody, sordid, appalling and somewhat biblical. The reveal and its aftermath are far afield of most domestic forays into the realm of traumatized families and attempts at rescue or redemption. Oldboy is the antithesis of feelgood Hollywood entries into the genre, so be warned that what you’ll see is hard to watch...and hard to forget. (11/27/13)

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