Oldboy (2003)

A man is locked in a hotel room for 15 years. During that time, the only connection he has with the outside is a TV set through which he sees the changes in the world and the passage of time. It's also through the TV that he receives news that his wife has been murdered and that his daughter was adopted by somebody overseas. No reasons or explanations are given until he suddenly wakes up on the top of a building with a wallet full of money. From then on, he's on a quest to find out why somebody did that to him.

"Oldboy" is disturbing. The themes discussed are even more depressing and shocking than the violence displayed in some scenes. Which isn't an easy thing to do, since it has a fair share of gruesome scenes. Anyway, after the movie is done, the spectator will be feeling at least a little bit uneasy. "Oldboy" will violate you, it will break the notions of decency and morality you have kept during your life. Unless, of course, incest, hate and blind vengeance are no strangers and you deal with it on your day by day.

Despite some over the top performances by the lead male actors and the tendency for whining that the female lead has, it's a well built movie. It's powerful. It makes you think after you're done with it.