Unbreakable Film Review

The Louis Zamperini biopic comes up big in theaters with inspiration.  

The latest biopic to hit theaters does not fall short in amazement and wonder.  In this inspirational true story, Loius Zamperini goes from adolescent trouble maker to local track star turned Olympian.  All of this nestled nicely in as flashbacks during his missions on board a B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II.  The pure survival instinct and mentality of Louis is the lifeblood of this film.  After going out on a search and rescue mission, his plane crashes in the Pacific and he spends over a month lost at sea with two other survivors.  Finally the survivors are rescued, unfortunately by a Japanese warship.  Louis spend the rest of World War II as a prisoner of war in Japan.  The tests and ordeals that Louis goes through are astonishing.  The film does a great job of showing us what Louis went through while providing a glimpse into the life of a POW in World War II.  

Much of the film can be credited to director Angelina Jolie doing a great job in just her third directorial venture.  She was also pivotal in getting the film made at all.  However the little known cast is what carries this film.  Jack O'Connell, who played Louis, does a great job of portraying the raw emotion of the events in Louis' life.  From being marooned in the ocean to standing up for himself in prison camp, O'Connell definitely has the acting chops to parlay this role into many more lead roles as well as awards for his portrayal of Zamperini.  The other pivotal role in the film was Zamperini's rival, Japanese officer Wantanabe played by Takamasa Ishihara.  Takamasa does a great job of portraying the cold Watanabe, nicknamed "the Bird" by the prisoners.  The Bird becomes not just a rival to Zamperini, but through Takamasa's masterful acting job he becomes a symbol of oppression over the prisoners which must eventually be overcome by Louis.  

With great acting, directing, and an inspirational, albeit extraordinary, true story at the heart of this film, Unbroken is a very well-done film.  I have no doubt that this film will win many awards in the upcoming award season.  I also believe this is a good inspirational film for anyone to see.  I give Unbroken 3.5 out of 4 stars.