‘I wasn’t scared’: Spike Lee on reimagining ‘Oldboy’

[evivante.livejournal.com]

The director of 'Malcolm X' and ‘Do The Right Thing’ discusses hardcore fans, Josh Brolin, and Kickstarter

Filmmaker Spike Lee has been getting the attention of audiences since 1986’s She’s Gotta Have It, but for his latest film he took on a decidedly different challenge: mounting a remake of Park Chan-wook’s revenge classic Oldboy. Starring Josh Brolin as a man who finds himself mysteriously imprisoned for 20 years, the new film is an English-language reimagining of a film that’s held dear by fans. We spoke with Lee about the challenges of taking on such a beloved film, what it was like working with Brolin, and his recent foray into online crowdfunding.

This is the first time you’ve done a remake of an existing film. What was it about Oldboy that inspired you to take it on?

Great film, great director, and a chance to work with Josh Brolin. And I had not done a reinterpretation before.

The original film has its own strong voice and visual style. You’re able to acknowledge that at times while still making this feel like your own movie. Did that ever play into your creative process — did you say, “Alright, now I have to find a way to put my stamp on it”?

No. I mean, I didn’t write [David Benioff’s] 25th Hour and I made it my own. [I didn’t write] Summer of Sam. I don’t have to write a script to make it my own.

That was the mindset going in. But here’s the thing, though: the only reason why Josh Brolin did the film was because Park gave his blessing to Josh. And Park’s one thing he said was, “Do not try to do my film over. Make it your own film.” So that’s something that Josh and I were determined to do, and I think we were successful.

Josh really lets loose in the movie. Particularly in the hotel room sequence, he just gets feral and animalistic—

[laughs] That’s Josh doing his thing!

How did you work with him to get him to that place?

Nah, I don’t get him there. That’s Josh! He’s a great actor.

He just makes it happen?

Yes! I mean we have a script and we rehearse, but once the cameras are going I don’t have to direct him. He knew what to do. We talked about it. He knew what the role required and he gained 50 pounds and we let it go. I mean, there were many times where we had takes that were 10 minutes.

Was there a lot of improvisation on set with those long takes?

Oh yeah, there has to be! That stuff can’t be scripted. Look, Josh is a great actor, and you know, we talk about stuff and then roll the camera. And he’ll just do his thing. That’s what makes him great.

When the remake was announced there was a lot of chatter from people that loved the original and thought it shouldn’t be remade. Did that kind of criticism ever get on your radar?

No, no, no. Not scared at all. Not scared. But at the same time, I understand why people are saying that. This is a cult film. And cult films are loved by fanatics. [laughs] And they’re fanatical. And whatever those films are, those films are dear to them. And they feel possessive of them. And they feel if someone’s going to do something to disrespect, or mangle, or maim, their film or book — or whatever it is — they’re going to let you know about it. So I understood that, and I knew that going in. But I wasn’t scared. It wasn’t going to stop me from doing what we had to do.

Has anyone ever approached you about remaking one of your films?

That’s not happening. [laughs] And one day I’m going to ask Park — I’ve yet to meet him — but one day I’m going to ask him why he allowed that. I don’t know what the answer is, but I’d like to ask him.

I’d like to discuss your Kickstarter project. You hit your goal in August—

Yes, the official title of the film is called Da Blood of Jesus. D. A. [pause] Da Blood of Sweet Jesus; I’m sorry. Da Blood of Sweet Jesus.

A lot of filmmakers have been trying Kickstarter this past year, and someone of your level trying it definitely got attention. What was your takeaway — do you think you’ll try it again?

I might go back, but it wouldn’t be for a film, though. But that’s hard work. Anybody that thinks they’re going to do Kickstarter and not work hard; they’re not going to get their money. They’re not going to reach their goal. That is hard, hard work.

Just in terms of getting the word out?

Everything. It’s a political campaign.

You mentioned in your Kickstarter video that it wasn’t that dissimilar to what you did back in the 1980s with your first feature.

Yeah, the basic structure. That’s how I raised the money for the first film, She’s Gotta Have It. There was no internet, but I was writing letters and postcards.

With projects like Veronica Mars, a lot of the conversation has been about whether this could — or should — scale. Do you see it as being better suited for independent filmmakers, or is there larger potential there?

No, someone’s going to raise a ton of money. I think Veronica Mars, I think $5 million? Someone’s gonna break that. You watch.

You mentioned earlier that a reinterpretation was something you hadn’t attempted before. Now that the film is about to come out, what was your favorite part of the process?

When you see it with an audience. The other night we had the first time I’ve ever seen it with an audience. And not one of those hated research screenings, which I hate. We had the premiere in New York, and I would say 95 percent of the people had not seen the original. And I really think that even though it’s a dear, cherished, cult film, you can’t leave out the fact that it was a Korean film with subtitles. So not that many people have seen it. So it was just great seeing it with an audience, and their reaction. People holding their hands over their eyes, and screaming, and turning away from the screen and all that stuff. The exact stuff that we wanted.

Oldboy opens in the US on Wednesday, November 27th.

Source: The Verge (by Bryan Bishop and Jacob Kastrenakes)

Comments

[tingl.livejournal.com]

If you know Oldboy is a cult classic, why are you still re-making it? lmao you should be scared.. it's gonna be a flop, okay? CMS said the production team were very 'sorry' to him, and told him he shouldn't have any high expectations for the film. Lol great, that's how everyone feels anyway.


Q: How closely are you following the American remake of Oldboy?
Choi Min-sik: I’m not really expecting to see it, but I’m following the press. Opps.

[tingl.livejournal.com]

Oh and it made me chuckle when Brolin said they will be keeping the octopus-eating scene. What the fuck? Eating live octopus is sort of a Korean cuisine.. They're trying too hard it's laughable.

Happy 10th anniversary, Oldboy!!

[aleksu7.livejournal.com]

What? lol, that doesnt make any sense! xD

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

Seriously?! That is going to be super awkward. Western audiences are going to very much misunderstand that.

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

where's your icon from? it's about nameless gangster, i assume?

[tingl.livejournal.com]

Yeap!

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

is there a link to the original clip?

[tingl.livejournal.com]

http://youtu.be/0_-kAjIQaoo
Choi Minsik was so adorable behind the scenes, haha

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

ty. wow i did not expect choi minsik to be this lively. and bonus ha jung woo is always nice :3

[gabbyrockzz.livejournal.com]

I was sooo shocked when I saw the trailer for this movie at the theaters.
I was like "OH GOD NO..." O_O
and when they showed the girl who is supposedly 'helping' him out I'm like:
"Nooooo!!! You're making a mistake!!!!" (>.<")
It was already painful the first time, I can't believe this gonna happen again. Haha!
Great movie though! The just is just too painful -_-

[bulleusekat.livejournal.com]

Well.... I don't think I'm a fanatic/hardcore fan of the original, I just don't see the need to remake it ?
It's as if someone tries to remake Titanic, Inception or whatev...
I just don't see the point in it except, in this case, win over the general American and European audience (who don't care / are too lazy to care about foreign movies).

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

i don't understand why people are heated over a remake...don't see it

i, however, want to see it and am eager to compare the two and get another take on it. kinda like girl with the dragon tattoo.

[imyoona.livejournal.com]

I feel like there is no need to. It's a great movie, it doesn't need a do-over.

[sometimeforever.livejournal.com]

I'm exactly the same, I watched the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake so I could make an informed comparison & I actually really enjoyed that movie tbh, so I'm quite intrigued about this Oldboy remake too.

[nortonamo.livejournal.com]

mte.
I'm a fan of the story in Oldboy, so I've been interested in this remake since news broke about it.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

i think one of the reasons why people are mad it's because it's been such a short time (it's only been ten years) but also because they took this movie with asian people and recast it with white people. it's kinda like infernal affairs/the departed (which reminds me that when the departed won at the oscars the announcer said it was a remake of a japanese movie, smh)

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

exactly this. it's not the remake itself---it's the fact that making this in america and automatically defaulting the race of all the major character to white is fucking insulting.

[love-allure.livejournal.com]

meh i'll probably stream this later than sooner.

[skonka.livejournal.com]

Why is this film held dear by fans? It's just a decent movie.

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

I think a lot has to do with the visuals of the movie, Choi Minsik, and just like, the shock factor of the story and ending???

Like, I enjoyed the movie, but when I saw it the first time I felt like it had been over-hyped for me? It was definitely an interesting and good watch but I wasn't blown away like I was expecting.

I mean, things like the hallway fight scene and then basically the whole ending will always stick with me just because of how shocked and completely thrown off I was by everything. I mean, yeah, there's lots of violence in movies today, but the kind of blatant violence in the movie surprised me (and always does in Korean films). I also didn't see that ending coming at all either (though I doubt many people did), so it's super memorable to me. And like I said, the acting by Choi Minsik was pretty amazing and, I think, deserving of all the praise and popularity the movie gets.

So idk. I mean, it's not something that I'm EVERYONE EVER SHOULD WATCH THIS, but it's definitely a movie that will stay with me because it's pretty extraordinary in a few ways.

[skonka.livejournal.com]

Pretty much my thoughts. I enjoyed it and the ending was 'enjoyable'but people go overboard with it's standing in cinema.

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

Perhaps my knowledge of Korean films is failing me a bit, but wasn't Oldboy one of the first films to have that super graphic style K-cinema is now known for? If so, I guess that could also be why it is considered a classic?

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

How do you remake a film....and not even meet the director of the original (if he's alive of course)


Like...Spike Lee, w h a t. I wonder if they're even going to show this in Korean cinemas when it comes out lmao.

[fairchilds.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of PCW, not a die hard fan of Oldboy but I hope this flops! :)))) I can't stand everyone involved in this esp wife beater Josh Brolin. I wished Liz Olsen wasn't in it.

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

josh brolin is a wifebeater?! urgg smhhhh

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

He kicked his wife out of bed once.

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

This is a cult film. And cult films are loved by fanatics.
Oldboy sure as hell ain't a cult film in South-Korea, you dumbass. Alot of people think it's a great film and they have every reason to be scared of what a ~remake~ might do with the original material. This has nothing to do with fanaticism.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

ugh i feel like he's one of those directors who are like ooooh foreign filmsss so exotic and so cult-yyyyy wrong asshole.

[lilybeth84.livejournal.com]

I think the biggest issue is the fact that it is (yet again) an example of American imperialistic tactics, where a powerful American industry (Hollywood) stomps all over everyone else with no regard to what already exists.
We should be extremely wary of remakes because it is is way of keeping us oblivious and ignorant. By not exposing Americans to Old Boy through a Korean lens, but through an American one, not only is it a completely different story, but it reinforces nationalism and the idea that "America is best" which is a dangerous thing.

From what I know, Spike Lee went back to the original source material of the Japanese comic, which makes it more of an adaptation than a remake, and that story didn't include the taboo of incest. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending it, because its still ignoring the fact that the story already exists in the context of its cultures, i.e Japan for the comic, and Korea for the film, and it shouldn't have 'made by America" stamped all over it to be worth introducing to a larger American audience.

But I bristle at the insults to Spike Lee. He made Malcolm X, He Got Game, and the 25th Hour, which are incredible films. And he is certainly not dumb, but he might be an asshole....