Hey folks, Harry here - This article - while about the OLDBOY remake - does contain spoilers - that if you haven't seen the film - you may not wish to know. As a result - I would recommend skipping Talk Back on this story for those of you wanting to remain pure for the release in the United States that's currently playing around the country. Now having said that - it seems the adaptation has been pretty strictly around cultural differences between Korea and U.S. Otherwise, the claim is they're attempting to make it everybit as hardcore as the original - which for people that have seen the original would mean it would be lame cuz we've already seen that handled to perfection. However, they do confirm the interest of Russell Crowe - who is genetically perfect among English Speaking actors for the role. Here ya go...
Hey there, Harry.
I sent you an early review of "Insomnia" from a special advance screening
from UC Irvine a gazillion years ago. I'm back now with a scoop regarding
Justin Lin's remake of the brilliant "Oldboy". As a huge fan of the film,
as most people who've seen it are, I was able to fish some info about the
film out of Fabian Marquez, the writer of "Better Luck Tomorrow" and this
remake.
Tonight at UC Irvine, there was a Q & A panel with Fabian Marquez, Paul
Davidson, and Grant Nieport. Just a quick side note: If the right people
in the right positions to do so are reading this, please give these 3 men
promotions and/or more work. They are intelligent and passionate about
their craft.
After the Q&A ended, I was able speak with Fabian Marquez about the remake
of "Oldboy". Before that, however, when asked about writing the film
during the panel discussion, Marquez mentioned that a lot of set pieces
like the one-take fight scene, themes, philosophy, and plot points would
remain. Also, he mentioned that tomorrow, Friday the 22nd, was the day
that he'd be turning in a rough draft, the 7th or 9th or so, to Universal.
So we are still in the very, very early stages. Marquez also mentioned
the original Korean film to be "a masterpiece" and that what he's written
so far has been an "homage" to the original.
After the panel discussion, I asked with a bit of hesitation if
.....SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN
"OLDBOY"..................................................................................the
whole incest aspect would remain. Marquez immediately replied, "Yes".
Thank
God................................................................................................SPOILER
END..............................................As for Thomas Jane being
involved or whatever, I was told he expressed some interest but wasn't
officially attatched. I tried to push for Sean Penn, but Marquez
mentioned that Russell Crowe is interested in playing the main character,
Oh Dae Su. Hell yeah! I'm fine with that! He can play 3 weeks ago,
after all! Aside from Chris Rock's Oscar jokes, for the villain, when I
asked, there wasn't anywone attatched or interested or named or whatever
either. However, Marquez mentioned that he would like to see John Cusack
play Lee Woo Jin. Hell yeah again! Imagine John Cusack in that role!
Anyway, it seems that the remake, so far, is moving very much in the right
direction. I hope Universal sticks with Fabian Marquez and doesn't lose
their cojones, and wussy out of releasing a potentially great film.
Oh yeah, and remember how Oh Dae Su eats fried dumplings every single day
while caged up in his cell for fifteen years? Well, Marquez has replaced
those duplings with........tacos. Mmmmmm, tacos. I'm hungry.
Anyway, if you use any of this, Harry, my name is
Curly Asian Fries
