Movie Review: Unbroken

       

          Unbroken, directed by Academy award winner Angelina Jolie, is the true story-to-book-to-film adaptation of olympian's Louis Zamperini's time in WWII.

Louis "Louie" Zamperini

          Within the first ten minutes of the movie, we learn Louie Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) was a troublemaker as a child. Coming from an Italian immigrant family, Louie was made fun of by the other boys, which most likely led to his drinking, stealing and smoking. One day, when racing away from trouble, his older brother Peter notices how fast he can run, and trains him until he becomes his very best. Louie eventually becomes an athlete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, coming 8th in the 5000m race.

          After the olympics, Louie joins the air force in WWII. While on a bombing mission, a plane Zamperini is on crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, he survives, along with Russell "Phil" Phillips (Domhnall Gleeson) and Francis "Mac" McNamara (Finn Wittrock). They survive through safety boats, and fishing in the surrounding water. Mac sadly passes on the 33rd day, leaving only Louie and Phil. On the 47th day, the Japanese find the two men, and they become prisoners of war. Because they've been at sea for a month and a half, when the Japanese demand for information, Louie and Phil have nothing to tell them. The Japanese don't believe them, and they are sent to P.O.W. camps. Louie and Phil are separated, and the movie continues on Zamperini's journey.

          At the P.O.W. camp in Tokyo, Louie meets a sergeant called Mutshiro "Bird" Watanabe. The Bird grows envious of Louie, and to make him feel better, beats him often. After two years at this camp, Watanabe gains a promotion and moves on to another camp. Not long after, Louie's camp is damaged after bombing from the Allies, and all the prisoners of war move to another camp, where low and behold, the Bird is yet again in charge.

          After years at this new camp, where they are loading coal barges, the War had ended. The movie finishes with a recreation of an old photo. Louie walks off the plane from Japan, kisses the ground, and reunites with his family. There is then a slideshow, showing what happened after the war. The last slide is a recent picture of Louis Zamperini, in memory of his death in early July.

Jack O'Connell (upper left) and Finn Wittrock (centre left)

          Like all true stories do, there were parts where I teared up, (I think I was emotionally connected to the characters,) and some where I laughed too hard, not because it was funny, but because I was so into the movie. I also think the ending gave us an insight into their lives, and helped us process that something so terrible really can happen. I also was so amazed by the cinematography, and the way everything was filmed. 

          There were some scenes in the movie which puzzled me. I was either not too sure of what was going on, or I was not interested. There were not many of these though, and overall, it was a terrific movie.

          While this movie did have its good and its (very few) not-so-good parts, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to be honest, when I first went in to see this movie, it was because one of my favourite actors from American Horror Story was in it. Although, even though that character was dead halfway into the movie, it was a surprise how much I was engaged. Usually, I'll be found watching chick-flicks or comedies, but this movie surely pushed me out of my comfort zone. 

★★★★☆