Review of Unbroken (2014) by Dylan R — 26 Jan 2015

Angelina Jolie's directorial debut is a hit and a miss. For a first time effort, it really isn't that bad, as it does make the Olympic star, Louis Zamperini, a hero among almost everyone who has or will see this film.

Zamperini is played stupendously by newbie Jack O'Connell, who rips so much heart and soul into the role. He's an actor to look forward to in the incoming years, and one of the pleasant surprises of the year.

As for the films downfalls: the film takes a while to really get focused. In the first hour, a jumbled editing mess of track and field meets, fighter planes, and stranded men at sea confuse the audience into really depicting the story right away.

It's not until they're fully on the ocean, fighting survival, where the story begins to clear up. But then on, it's an hour more of what seems like sluggishly paced drama, which most of the hour consists of "The Bird" (a Japanese officer) literally beating the hell out of Zamperini.

Miyavi, the actor, makes a good attempt to deliver a good villain character, which he does, but not nearly to the same caliber or rawness that Barkhad Abdi did in "Captain Phillips" the year before.

A nasty, ruthless, easy to route against villain, yes. But was I truly scared? No, not really. Although powerful and saddening, it gets somewhat tiring and we don't really see a change in energy or action or pace or tone in this whole second half.

The resolution is full and bland, and the whole film seems to be lacking something. The audience will sympathize and root for Zamperini, no doubt, but the film itself could have been better than the dull, one note feel it had the entire time.

There were glimpses of potential and great filmmaking on Jolie's part, and for a first time behind the camera, I definitely give her props and congratulations. The movie wasn't the best, but it was by NO means one of the worst I've seen.