REVIEW: Unbroken

UNBROKEN

RELEASE DATE:OUT NOW

RATED: PG-13

RATING: *****/*****

THE PREMISE: (From IMDB) The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war. Only to be captured by the Japanese navy after an almost fatal plane crash in the Pacific. After the Japanese have him, they send him to a refugee camp, only to face daring challenges head on. 

 

THE PRO'S: Masterful storytelling, excellent acting, an incredible story of an incredible man, great writing

 

THE CON'S: Not a movie for everyone, very intense and hard to get through, and therefore not for the faint of heart.

 

THE REVIEW:

So wow, this was EASILY my favorite movie of 2014, and I want to start my review by saying that. It is the most poignant, well-acted, thought-provoking film of the year. So I can't exactly say there will be a lot of negativity in my review. Because it's a movie that doesn't deserve it, at least to me.

The movie tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner enlisted in World War II. During his time in the army, he survives an extended fight for his life while stranded in the middle of the ocean (following a plane crash). Only to eventually be found, and captured, by the Japanese, who put him into a prisoner-of-war camp, where his true struggle to survive begins.

Now where to begin? I think I should start with the acting in this movie. Namely I want to single Jack O'Connel who plays Louis, and Takamasa Ishihara who plays the movies villain, best known as "The Bird". O'Connel is easily one of the best young actors I have seen on-screen, bringing so much to the role that he really made for him. While in contrast, Ishihara is an exceptionally hate-able, vile villain who really gets under your skin, and ultimately gets you to really, really hate him. A quality every great villain needs and truly comes off well here. 

And if that was not enough, their chemistry, which drives most of the movie is incredible. They truly come off as their characters (and the people they are based on), and not for a moment did I feel like that was unbelievable. And on the talk of chemistry, there is also a ton of great chemistry between him, and his two fellow castaways, played by Finn Wittrock and Doomhall Gleeson, is incredible as well. With their plight at sea being intense, and well balanced in a way that really just stands out.

This is my first Angelina Jolie directed feature, and let me tell you, she is a hell of a filmmaker. The cinematography is an exceptional treat, with the visual aspects playing well to the film. It's a dark movie, but in this case, the sometimes gritty feel of the movie absolutely plays out outstandingly. It really makes me want to check out her last movie, as well as any movie she may make in the foreseeable future.

But all of this is only second-hand to the absolutely incredible story. Zamperini is a hell of a man, and in my opinion, probably the original "badass" in my eyes. I was completely engrossed in his tale, and how he got through this incredibly heart-wrenching and intense situation. I was in awe, not only at his courage, but his sheer will to survive. And this was only added onto each and every time a new obstacle came his way.

 

That said, I would warn this is not an easy movie to get through. It's a brutal journey through World War II, and those that are faint of heart may find it hard to take many scenes in the prison camp, as one in my own party did. But if you can get through it, let me tell you, I feel that the journey is well worth those moments. 

So to say the least...

IN CONCLUSION:

I could go on all day about how truly incredible "Unbroken" is. It's an incredible, even uplifting story of human courage, as well as the courage of an incredible man. It may easily be one of my favorite movies ever made. So to say the least, I cannot recommend it enough.

5/5 STARS

MY PICK FOR MOVIE OF THE YEAR