Unbroken-2014

Director Angelina Jolie

Starring Jack O’Connell

Scott’s Review #260

Reviewed August 1, 2015

Grade: B

Unbroken (2014) tells the true story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini, a runner during World War II, who also served in the military during this tumultuous time in history.

His story is one of bravery, courage, and endurance, as he survives a hellish experience in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp after having crashed in the Pacific Ocean, stranded for forty-seven days as if that were not enough to break a man.

Mainstream Hollywood fare to the hilt, this film is surprisingly directed by Angelina Jolie (a woman) and written by the Coen brothers, who usually deliver less traditional, quirkier fare than this.

Jolie directs what is arguably a “guys movie” that contains very few women in the cast, and the ones who do appear are either loving mothers or giggling schoolgirl types, so the big names associated with Unbroken surprise me.

I would have taken this work as a Clint Eastwood film.

Unbroken, expected to receive several Oscar nominations, was shut out of the major categories.

Visually, Unbroken is slick, glossy, and shot very well- it looks perfect. The cinematography, sound effects, and costumes look great.

The cast of good-looking young men looks handsome even when battered, bruised, and half-starved. While this is a compliment in a way, it’s not one.

Unbroken lacks any grittiness and plays it quite safe. Even the scenes of abuse and beatings lack an edge to them.

This isn’t to say the film isn’t good. It is good.

I found myself inspired by the lead character, Louis, played by Jack O’Connell, for his resilience during his ordeals. O’Connell gives a very good performance as his motto, “If I can take it, I can make it,” is repeated throughout, and who will not cheer at his accomplishments?

Zamperini, who has traditional Italian parents who relocated to the United States, is strict but fair. Louis’s older brother, Peter, is his best friend and is the person who has the most faith in him.

At first, Louis is on the verge of becoming a punk and getting into trouble with the law, if not for his brother’s interference, which gets him interested in running.

As the years go by and war erupts, Louis embarks on a tour of duty in the military, and his plane crashes in the water, providing yet another test of courage and stamina. Louis is strong and always the leader of the group he’s with.

The scenes of the three survivors stranded on the raft for days become slightly tedious, but perhaps this is the intention, as they eat raw fish and raw birds to survive.

Much of the remaining action is set in two Japanese war camps as Louis (and others) struggle to survive until the massive war has ended- they do not know if they will live or die.

The central antagonist- a vicious Japanese sergeant named “Bird”- perplexed me.

Blatantly targeting Louis and administering cruel beatings and heaping tests of strength upon Louis, presumably out of jealousy because Louis was an Olympic athlete, why did Bird not simply kill him?

His motivations were also odd- in one scene, Bird tearfully tells Louis that he knew they would be friends from the beginning and seems to admire him. Bird’s father, going by a photo, seems a hard, mean man.

Is this why Bird is so vicious? Bird’s character is not well thought out.

Also, every Japanese character is portrayed in a very negative light, which, sadly, is common in war movies. Surely, despite being a war, there had to have been a few Japanese people who were not cruel.

Character development and depth are not this film’s strong suit.

Unbroken is a good, solid war drama with an inspiring message of triumph, faith, and determination.

It’s a positive message for viewers of all ages.

The abuse/torture scenes are tough to watch, but the result is a feel-good story.

The snippets of the real Louis Zamperini are wonderful to watch.

Oscar Nominations: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography