Oldboy
Oldboy has solidified itself as a true masterpiece of cinema for me. It’s a film thats boldness, depth and originality has really impressed me - leaving me in as much awe as it does shock.
To me, this is Park Chan-Wook’s magnum opus, creating the perfect vengeance story by encapsulating tragedy, anger and love all into one. From the ants and the octopus, to the hammer and the wings, Oldboy is rich in symbolism - constantly displaying complex ideas with such grace and subtlety. Park’s script allows for some stellar dialogue that reinforces these themes, enhancing the moral questions created and furthering the depth provided. A line that really stands out is “laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone”, deeply poetic and expertly reflecting Oh Dae-Su’s character arc.
Visually, the film is stunning. The expressionistic colour palette paired with some imaginative camerawork (Dutch angles, tracking shots and symmetrical composition throughout are a few standouts) creates some breathtaking cinematography. Every shot feels meticulously crafted, making Oldboy one of the most visually powerful films I’ve ever seen.
The action sequences were groundbreaking at the time and remain groundbreaking today. Brutal, stylish and still fresh, the hallway sequence remains engrained in my mind - a scene that feels both stylised and grounded at the same time. Stylised through the choreography and the long, lateral tracking shots yet still grounded via the spatial continuity, lack of cuts and diegetic sounds - creating a tactile type violence.
As well as this, at the centre of it all is Choi Min-Sik, whose performance is nothing short of generational. His raw intensity and emotional range elevate the entire film to a different level. The climax is a masterclass of vulnerability and catharsis. Choi shifts from anger and pride to humiliation, horror and desperation within minutes, all while maintaining complete believability - rooting himself in that controlled melodrama that Korea so successfully embraces.
For me, Oldboy is not just a favourite - it’s the greatest film of all time. Its outlandishness, artistry and complexity make it unforgettable. A twist like no other, an ambiguous ending to remember and one of the best villains of all time - I could talk about this film forever.