ASK NOT WHY YOU WERE IMPRISONED. ASK WHY YOU WERE SET FREE.
Alcoholic ad executive Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) is kidnapped and locked up in what looks like a hotel room; after 20 years, heās releasedā¦ for a reason. Remaking the 2003 South Korean thriller seems like a strange project for Spike Lee, and the results largely underscore the pointlessness. Admittedly, the film is unpleasant yet attractively shot, with a very good performance by Brolin as the prisoner who changes over the yearsā¦ but itās not as interesting and provocative as the original and Sharlto Copley is less compelling as the lunatic behind Brolinās nightmare.
2013-U.S. 104 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed byĀ Spike Lee. Cast: Josh Brolin (Joe Doucett), Elizabeth Olsen (Marie Sebastian), Sharlto Copley (Adrian Doyle Pryce), Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli, Max Casella… Rami Malek.
Trivia: Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Will Smith and Clive Owen were allegedly considered for the lead; Steven Spielberg for directing duties.