If you spend any time on the internet, you’ll know that many people are debating whether Spike Lee’s Oldboy remake will hit the tone of Park Chan-wook’s original instant classic revenge thriller. Critically acclaimed, the Korean original has a very strong following of true cinema lovers, many of which who opposed the idea of a remake from the start. But, can we really write a movie off before even seeing it?
Many movies are remakes and we don’t even know it, plus not all remakes have a negative impact. Recent horror movies have given remakes a bad name, but thanks to some serious surprises this Comic Con from the people behind Oldboy, I’m here to say that we shouldn’t be so quick as to assume the ball is going to be dropped on November 27th when Josh Brolin steps into this coveted lead role.
Attending the Oldboy panel at New York Comic-Con were Michael Imperioli, Pom Klementieff, and writer Mark Protosevich, and although he couldn’t make it, Josh Brolin appeared on the big screen for an introduction to the event. Speaking to how dark the film is, Brolin assured us he’s “gone completely insane after this movie,” and our expectations should be met. Sure, we can trust an actor only so much, but then a clip was supplied as backup – a clip that had the entire crowd wincing and screaming.
Here’s a rundown of the scene we were shown:
The piece opens with Josh Brolin’s character, Joe Doucett, sitting in a Chinese-type restaurant. We cut to the pick-up station and see a pile of food for delivery. In walks Henchman #1 to pick up lunch for his hideout, and that’s where things get interesting. Brolin gets up and follows him closely, grabbing a hammer and stealing the delivery boy’s bike. Pursuing the henchman, who is driving an Escalade, the two turn into a warehouse area. The car parks, and just as the henchman starts walking away, Brolin sneaks up on him and cracks his face open, along with another guard (who we see dead).
He’s buzzed into the next room, hiding his face behind the food so the next security guard doesn’t know he’s there. Spitting out a quick one-liner, Brolin pierces the new victim’s head with the sharp end of the hammer, producing a gasp-worthy blow – but he’s not done. The camera shows Samuel L. Jackson monitoring security cameras, Brolin walks in, clocks him, and ties him to a table. With Sammy J regaining his wits, Brolin draws a dotted line across his neck and takes out a box cutter. Jackson pleads, simultaneously begging for his life and cursing Brolin out, but Josh cuts one of the lines off his neck. Continuing, he cuts another and throws the fleshy waste in the garbage – with Jackson swearing profusely the whole time. Brolin snickers though, like he’s getting some sick pleasure out of the act, and simply responds with something Jackson’s character doesn’t want to hear – “I’m going to keep going until I can pull your head off with my bare hands.” End Scene.
Listen, for anyone wondering if Protosevich’s script was going to tailor Oldboy for more mainstream audiences, please, please understand that the violence was extremely brutal and stylized in the scene we were shown. Brolin didn’t just whack some guy in the head with a hammer, he drove the metal tool into this man’s skull, with blood gushing and brutality at a maximum. I’ll admit, I was somewhat of a skeptic when Lee was originally announced as director, but wow, if the scene that was shown during this panel is any indication of what the entire movie will subject us to, audiences will be in for one wild, twisted ride.
Speaking to Mark’s script, Michael explained what it was like reading the material for the first time. “It was a ride, it was a really fun read. Shocking. The end really just grabs you.” The ending, of course, is what most fans of the original are worried about, but Michael spoke very highly as to how it absolutely floored him. Mark of course chimed in and stated that he think’s this year’s Oldboy will have an even more suprising ending than the original, but that remains to be seen.
Mark was hounded all panel about how he dealt with pleasing the “haters,” any pressures he received from studios to water down material for wider audience appeal, and his take on Oldboy, but the writer stuck true to his guns. “Oh we’re just as psychologically screwed up,” said Mark. “I dare you to find someone after watching the first film who says, ‘We’re gonna clean up on this!'” His is a great point because Chan-wook’s Oldboy is heavily reliant on action sequences, impactful brutality, and one man’s crazy journey for revenge. If studios are smart enough, they wouldn’t downsize the one thing such a movie was based on, and Mark assured us there wasn’t a single restriction put on his creative process, saying, “[There was] none at all. This isn’t a big studio movie. This had the sprit of an independent production.”
Actress Pom Klementieff was an absolute delight on stage, charming the audience with her fangirl-esque love for Park Chan-wook. “When I saw [Oldboy] when I was 16 – I wanted to be inside the movie. I’m so happy to be here.” Sharing her stories on-set, Pom revealed she trained in a Tae-Kwon Do inspired martial arts form, as she plays Sharlto Copley’s bodyguard, which is the equivalent to Mr. Han on the original. She loved being a “badass,” and even acted as one herself, as she lost a toenail after shooting concluded. Now that, my friends, is dedication. Pom was so good, in fact, Michael confessed that watching her on-set was his favorite memory from filming. “[My favorite moment?] Watching her do martial arts. It looked pretty impressive.”
Mark also explained his dedication to Oldboy, recalling back to when he got the call from Will Smith, asking him to pen Oldboy with him starring and Steven Spielberg directing. Oh how the times have changed, right? Here we are about five years later with a completely new cast and crew, yet Mark never quit. It paid off too, because Mark received a major compliment from Spike, and was honored to reveal almost nothing changed from when Spike read his script to now. Being a writer himself, Spike’s approval meant so much to Mark, and just made him more confident.
Unfortunately, Sharlto Copley also was not able to attend, but the panel had only the best things to say about his wacky performance. “He likes to intellectualize things, so he’s really thinking about the character every time. I’m more instinctive, he’s more brainy,” said Pom. “He really is going for it. It’s unlike any role you’ve seen him do, in a good way, and in a surprising way,” chimed in Michael. I’ve been a Sharlto fan since District 9, and the extra two clips shown exclusively to press only promise another performance from Sharlto that’s wildly different and vivaciously acted.
Speaking to the dark places his mind traveled to while writing, Mark explained the experience of writing Oldboy. “My wife was happy when I was done writing this script. It was a pretty intense experience if you’re really giving it your all. You’re going to some dark places. You sit by yourself outside with a glass of scotch, trying to take yourself out of that.” Dark enough for you?
Oldboy came into the New York Comic Con with a purpose, ready to show audiences they’ve had enough of the naysayers putting down a product not even released yet. The scene that was screened pleased everyone in the main hall and ended Friday on a high note, as when the lights came back on, the appearing cast were greeted with a loud round of applause. While we were only shown one scene – man, what a scene it was. Consider me a believer, as I officially can’t wait until November 27th, where you can find me at a midnight screening for Spike Lee’s Oldboy remake.
Go in with an open mind and give this Western adaptation a shot – what’s the worst that can happen?