LA Movie Review- Oldboy

   A man is kidnapped and imprisoned for twenty years. When he is released he seeks out his captors for revenge and answers as to why they imprisoned him. Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Shartlto Copely, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this Spike Lee directed remake of a well received South Korean thriller. This is an incredibly dark and disturbing movie that is not for everyone. It is a scaring film that goes beyond anything in recent memory. The film's journey is harrowing and dives into places that are completely unexpected and damaging.
   Spike Lee is a very outspoken director. His direction is at times uneven when setting the tone for the film. Some scenes feel out of place within the film. The style of cinematography changes as the film goes on which proves to be distracting as it can pull you out of the movie and remind you that you are in fact, watching a movie.
   Josh Brolin is terrific in this film. He delivers an intense and determined performance. He goes through a transformation as a man who struggles through alcoholism, isolation, and an unbelievable anger. Brolin also manages to convincingly perform action even when the action sequences seems as though they take place in a heightened reality. Shartlto Copely, fresh off of his turn as the villainous Agent Kruger in Elysium, adds this menacing performance to his repertoire. He is in a word diabolical, though even that word almost doesn't seem strong enough to describe how truly evil his character was.  Newcomer,  Elizabeth Olsen plays a doctor who joins Brolin's efforts of revenge. Her role in the film provides an emotional connection to Brolin and Olsen gives a good performance. Samuel Jackson is fun in the film, but he isn't given much to do.
   The screenplay is fine. There are a few conveniences in the plot now and again but you forgive it since you are getting wrapped up into the story. Then you arrive at the film's final moments. There is a moment that will make you ask yourself, "Oh my god, did they really just do that?" and "Did they have to take it that far?". This will be the moment that is burned into your brain and will light up when ever you think about this movie. I enjoyed a very large part of this film, however, the final moments were just more than I could bear, and thus cost the film a higher rating.
4/5