Summary
Louis Zamperini’s fascinating life as an Olympic athlete and subsequently a U.S. Army Air Corps bombardier is depicted in Angelina Jolie’s astonishing 2014 film Unbroken. Louis underwent catastrophic trials as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II. Drawn from Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, the movie intricately displays the themes of survival, willpower, and the spirit of humanity.
Initially, we see young Louie, portrayed by C.J. Valleroy, as a child of Italian immigrants growing up in Torrance, California, Los Angeles. While being in-and-out of the juvenile system due to law-breaking, Louis gets bullied racially, compounding his difficulties. With the help of his older brother, Pete, Louie channels his energy into competitive running which transforms his life. He attends the 1936 Berlin Olympics and proudly completes the 5,000-meter race.
When World War II begins, Louie joins the United States military as a bombardier in the Pacific theater. While on a mission, his B-24 bomber gets heavily damaged. Later, while conducting a search-and-rescue mission, the plane—the search and rescue plane—mechanically fails and crashes into the ocean as well. Only Louie and two of his fellow crewmen—pilot Phil Phillips (Domhnall Gleeson) and tail gunner Mac McNamara (Finn Wittrock)—are the only survivors. In total, they all somehow manage to float on a life raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as they wished, however, starving, dehydrated, and exhausted, they did wish to do battle with the elements. On the other hand, they have to endure 47 days at sea, which is definitely no picnic either.
Once stranded, their struggles turn into even deeper waters as they are taken by the Japanese navy and imprisoned in a harsh prisoner-of-war facility in Japan. Here, Unbroken moves from warm-encapsulated description of sea survival to scarring imprisonment, mental torture, and brutality. Louie gets sent to one of the camps governed by Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe (played chillingly by Japanese musician Miyavi), a sadistic and mentally ill prison guard determined to completely shatter any resistance left in Louie, who becomes obsessed with Louie’s spirit.
Watanabe humiliates and singles out Louie for beatings, which causes Watanabe to view Louie’s Olympic past and rebellious attitude as a risk. Louie, no matter how much abuse he has to endure, repeatedly chooses dignity over safety, never yielding his spirit. Even when he is offered a chance at better treatment, Louie decides not to take it, showing the main focus of the film’s unyielding resilience.
The relentless abuse continues for Louie sustaining harsh labor, starving, and enduring endless violence for two years. Still, he survives. The movie climaxes with Louie’s forced punishment of burden-bearing—where he decapitates a heavy wooden pole he has to hold above his head for what feels like an eternity. Here, Louie, despite being physically broken, wins morally and spiritually.
The prisoners are finally set free when the war comes to conclusion. People with the film wrap photo collection csn’t help but show real-life footage accompanied by a small voiceover stating Louie died an old man returning to Japan forgiving his tormentors—showing his life was not only to make him suffer but also endure, heal, and even love.
Cast & Crew
Jack O’Connell as Louis Zamperini: O’Connell delivers a breakout performance fully embodying Louie’s physical and emotional endurance. His transformation, both in body and spirit, adds greatly to the film’s emotional impact.
Miyavi as Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe: The Japanese rock star makes chilling artwork as he plays the sadistic prison guard. His portrayal is dual-sided; he shows Watanabe as a savagely insecure, power-crazed, domineering man.
Domhnall Gleeson as Phil Phillips: Gleeson’s performance as Louie’s comrade is restrained and dignified, portraying affection towards Louie. His friendship adds emotional depth to their time at sea and imprisonment.
Garrett Hedlund and Finn Wittrock are also part of Louie’s ensemble of soldiers who partake in his frightening journey.
Angelina Jolie unleashes her second directorial effort with Unbroken. She effortlessly blends intense realism with surreal visuals. Unlike most directors, her discipline is seen in choosing not to overdramatize the already intense story, often relying on stark images and O’Connell’s performance to deliver the emotion.The screenplay of the movie was done by an elite group which consists of the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan), Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson. Beside all the craftsmanship, some film critics believe the movie is portrayed in a more conventional way but, in fact, manages to condense an intricate existence into a film narrative.
One of the most revered cinematographers in the business, Roger Deakins, filmed the entire motion picture with great clarity. His visuals—especially the long shots of the boundless ocean, the desolate camp interiors, and the ghostly faces of the prisoners—inject a grandeur, bordering on the transcendental into the film.
The film also shows a calm yet powerful score that beautifully blends the film’s gentle and happy moments but still allows the storyline to take the focus.
According to IMDb, the movie Unbroken has a rating of 7.2/10 which indicates an overall favorable reception from the audience. Reviewers appreciated the film for its motivational narrative, exceptional acting, and breathtaking cinematography. Many people admired the true story of the film based on the character Louie Zamperini for his incredible grit and moral courage.
The critics of the film, however, remain divided. Some of them praise its tone, particularly appreciating the Jolie-Deakins partnership, while other critics pointed out that the film’s script was far too linear or whitewashed some of the darker facets of Louie’s experiences. Some even argued that the film, despite being very emotionally rang true, completely ignored the deeper psychological aspects, especially the post-traumatic stress disorder after Louie returned home – something Hillenbrand’s book noted in further detail.
Regardless, Unbroken was a commercial success, accumulating more than $163 million from a $65 million budget. It also earned three Cinematic Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing Which all fall under the best presentation for a movie.
Conclusion
The movie Unbroken stands out as not only visually impressive but striking in nature, depicting in detail the life of Louis Zamperini an extraordinary person who battled with the war, nature, and cruelty from men.Testament to a remarkable spirit never broken, remaining undefeated. Domestically conquered along with his world, acclaimed for both alive and mentally unbroken.
Unbroken captivates viewers by not solely showcasing survival but demonstrating freeing one’s identity and courage blended all within richly flavored narrative.”
While not exploring the profound psychological battles Louie faced after the war, the film does manage to capture the essence of his journey: a testament to the strength of will, which is the heart of his entire life. Unbroken is an incredibly cinematic experience owing to Jack O’Connell’s passionate performance and Angelina Jolie’s respectful direction.
Unbroken is a movie that everyone must watch if they are interested in stories of relentless perseverance, wartime struggles, or moral victories of life.
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