Unbroken is a compelling story about Louis Zamperini, the Olympic runner who survived a plane crash and 47 days adrift in the Pacific, followed by two years in Japanese prison camps. Jolie, with help from a script by Joel and Ethan Coen, does not shy away from the ugliness of war.
Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s Best-Selling Book
The story begins with Zamperini as a scrappy kid who rises to become a record-breaking Olympic runner and then joins the Army Air Forces, where he serves as a bombardier in World War II. He survives a plane crash and 47 days adrift on the Pacific Ocean, then endures years of brutal treatment in Japanese prisoner of war camps.
Jolie directs with a steady hand, never inflating the heroism or injecting maudlin cliches into this compelling real-life story. It is well acted and filmed, but the climax feels like it could have been more developed.
Jack O’Connell Performs Well
Jack O’Connell is a young actor with tremendous physical and emotional range. He proved this with his riveting performance in prison drama Starred Up and as a troubled young man in 71 and the latest series of This Is England.
Jolie has given her young starlet a challenging part and he rises to it with remarkable élan. His face breaks into a smile at the slightest provocation, and he exudes charm and boyish good looks even when forced to endure torture in the Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.
Unbroken is a film available on lookmovie that demands your attention. However, its depiction of Louis Zamperini’s grueling journey starts to feel repetitive and masochistic by the time he winds up in the Naoetsu camp. The movie could have added a degree of nuance and a dose of humor to its narrative.
Angelina Jolie Directs
In her second feature as a director, Jolie brings out the best in her cast and her cinematographer. She also makes a case that she can direct bigger movies than her glitzy acting work would suggest.
Unbroken recounts the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete whose World War II experiences – running from Japanese fighter planes, surviving 47 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean and internment in a Japanese POW camp – could fill four movies. The fact that Jolie manages to corral the story into a single, coherent narrative – with plenty of help from Deakins’ supple visuals and indelible performances from Jack O’Connell – is a minor miracle.
Roger Deakins’ Cinematography Is Magnificent
When it comes to filmmaking, few cinematographers are more acclaimed than Roger Deakins. He has worked with directors like the Coen brothers, Sam Mendes, and Denis Villeneuve. He also has a podcast called Team Deakins that discusses film and cinematography.
Deakins captures the ruggedness of the landscape beautifully in Unbroken. He uses a combination of handheld and steady shots to create an immersive experience for the audience. He also uses lighting and color to add emotion to the scenes.
Conclusion
In Unbroken, the hero struggles to overcome one obstacle after another. While it’s gratifying to see him prevail, the repetitive nature of his travails starts to feel masochistic. The film hints at spirituality, but it never fully develops that aspect of the tale. This is a must-see movie for fans of true stories. It is a true testament to human strength and perseverance.