Review of Unbroken (2014) by Smoothrunner — 21 Nov 2015

First of all I must admit, that I'm not a fan of Angelina Jolie. In fact, I never liked her. Moreover, after reading some negative reviews here I didn't expect much from her movie. However Zamperini's story (about whom I never heard before) interested me, so I decided to spend couple of hours of my life watching "Unbroken".

And I was really surprised - first hour of the movie is wonderful, both visually and substantively. I felt effect of presence in depicted scenes - in the bomber, falling apart from fighters fire, under the scorching sun on a raft with starving men lost in the Pacific Ocean. Second movie's part failed to hold the level. It is still well made, but something was missed there - some intensity or nerve - yet "it" was found again near the end of the movie. And it shed light on why the Bird refused to met Zamperini again. In the end, the one who was broken, was "breaker" Watanabe, not his victim. It was the Bird, who didn't dare to watch in Zamperini's eyes. Good point from Jolie and new, practical perspective on Christian doctrine of forgiveness. Well, where credit is due it must be given. So credit to Jolie.