Elizabeth Olsen on the Original ‘Oldboy’ After Making a Forgettable Remake: ‘The most perfect film ever made’

The 90s were all about the Olsen twins, but to everyone’s surprise, it’s their younger sister who really took off. Elizabeth Olsen followed in their acting footsteps, but when she made her big entrance into the MCU, most people didn’t realize she actually started in indie films.

Also, she values a good story, no matter the budget, the studio, or the paycheck behind it. With few demands, it seems like she’ll always be open to roles that genuinely interest her, and that’s all there is to it. On top of that, one of her standout traits is her fascination with unique, complex characters that challenge and surprise audiences on a psychological level — like she did in the Oldboy remake.

Elizabeth Olsen Calls The Original Oldboy The Best Film Ever Made

Some non-American films reach such a cult status that they transcend their origins, gaining popularity with both cinephiles and casual audiences. This was the case with Oldboy, a Korean production originally released in 2003.

The plot is anything but typical, targeting an audience that many would describe as open-minded or thinking outside the box. In fact, this is one of the qualities that Elizabeth Olsen values when selecting her projects. It’s no surprise that she considers the movie to be the best ever made.

In an interview with IndieWire in 2013, the same year Spike Lee‘s remake was released, Olsen shared her thoughts on her experience with the project and the reasons behind her decision to be involved. When asked if she had ever seen the original, she replied:

No, and then I saw the movie and was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the most perfect film ever made.‘

To me it’s just a story that should be told and told again in 10 years because it’s cool, it’s shocking. If people don’t know it, they should know it. It’s such a fun ride as an audience member to be surprised like that and have such a great twist at the end.

Some press reports suggested that joining the film could be a risk for her, given that Oldboy isn’t exactly a mainstream production. For an actress who was beginning to make a name for herself, this concern is understandable. However, she clarified that it wasn’t an offer; she actively sought out the role.

In the same interview, the actress emphasized that while she enjoys blockbusters, she doesn’t prioritize being involved in big projects. Although she would be open to participating in something significant, it’s not a necessity for her.

This sentiment extends to remakes as well. She believes that if a story is worth retelling, she has no reason to turn it down.

Elizabeth Olsen Prefers Roles That Challenge And Engage Audiences

Since starring in major projects like Marvel and Godzilla, Olsen has become a popular icon. However, if one looks at her filmography, they’ll find some movies where her characters are quite unique. One notable example is Wanda Maximoff, who developed a darker personality due to her traumas.

For IndieWire, she mentioned that she enjoys playing characters “that have some sort of layered psychological damage that maybe the audience doesn’t know about.” According to her, this approach allows her to take on a sense of responsibility for prompting thought, much like detective work.

She recently reiterated this at the Toronto Film Festival while promoting her film The Assessment: (via Golden Globes)

It’s a movie that really makes you think. I’ve reached a point in my career where I’m looking to act in films that make you think.

Other than that, she talked about the joy of making the audience uncomfortable, which aligns with her desire to take on roles that challenge her. By now, Olsen has established herself as a truly versatile actress, and it’s precisely this willingness to push boundaries that sets her apart.

In an interview with Dazed, she elaborated on this idea while preparing for a new movie with director Todd Solondz, who is renowned for his provocative and thought-provoking work:

There’s so much of me that loves making people uncomfortable with art. I like to squirm. Sometimes I’m offended by what I’m watching, but I’m happy that someone’s pushed a boundary. That’s important. We should continue to challenge what we know of the form. We live in a world where we have so many opinions about everyone, and it’s so black and white. The grey and nuanced is far more interesting. We should be focusing on creating that space in art because we lack it in society and culture.

Unfortunately, the darkly comic project was ultimately canceled due to a lack of financing. (via World of Reel)

Oldboy is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.