Unbroken

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2017)

I had heard about this wartime movie during the time it was in cinemas, I already wanted to see it because of its inclusion during awards season, but then more so when I realised it was directed by actress Angelina Jilie, and written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, No Country for Old Men, Inside Llewyn Davis, Bridge of Spies). Basically Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) is an Italian-American young man from Torrance, California, in his childhood he was a troublemaker, and often picked on by other kids for being of Italian ethnicity. But Louie grows up more disciplined, becoming an accomplished distance runner, earning him the nickname "The Torrance Tornado", qualifying for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, coming 8th in the 5,000 meters race, and setting a record for speed in the final lap. Then Louie joins the armed forces in World War II, becoming a bombardier of a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator bomber, during a bombing mission against the Japanese-held island of Nauru, the plane is badly damaged in combat and crashes in the ocean. Louie survives, alongside Russell "Phil" Phillips (Domhnall Gleeson) and Francis "Mac" McNamara (Finn Wittrock), they live on two rafts, over the next few days they survive on the remaining rations until they run out, then on fish and rain water. On the 27th day, they get the attention of a passing Japanese plane, but it flies over and fires at them, damaging the rafts but missing them, Mac dies 6 days later of exhaustion, and finally on the 47th day, they are found by Japanese sailors. Louie and Phil are captured and become prisoners of war, taken to Kwajalein Atoll and kept in a dungeon, Louie finds out nine U.S. Marines have been held captive on the island, all have been beheaded. One day later, the Japanese ask Louie and Phil to tell them about E-class bombers and the Norden bomb sight, Louie states they flew D-class, on another day they are dragged, disrobed and kneel on planks, they believe it is their execution, the two are shocked that they are crudely washed to be shipped to mainland Japan, but they are separated and sent to different POW camps. Louie's camp, Ōmori, in Tokyo, is headed by Japanese corporal Mutsuhiro "The Bird" Watanabe (Takamasa Ishihara, aka Miyavi), he treats Louie cruelly, being a former Olympian and an American officer. Louie escapes torture when two Japanese newsmen give him the opportunity to broadcast a message home saying that he is alive, but he refuses to broadcast a second message with anti-American propaganda, so back at the camp Watanabe has each other prisoners punch him to teach him respect. Two years later Watanabe is promoted and leaves the camp, American forces bomb Tokyo and the camp is damaged, Louie and the other internees are forced to move to Naoetsu prison camp, Louie is horrified to find Watanabe in charge, he continues to suffer exhaustion and beatings. At the end of the war, Louie and the other prisoners in the camp are set free to return to their homes, Louie wanting to find Watanabe realises he has fled, back home in America, Louie kisses the ground and hugs his family. At the end of the film, a slideshow shows what happened to the real Louie Zamperini, he was married with two children, Phil survived and want on to marry his childhood sweetheart, Watanabe went into hiding for several years and evaded prosecution despite being listed in the top 40 most-wanted Japanese war criminals, and Louie lived out his devotion to God, forgiving his war-time captors and meeting many of them, Watanabe however refused to meet him. In 1998, Louie relived his time as a Olympian, running a leg of the Olympic Torch relay for the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, four days before his 81st birthday, he died aged 97 on 2nd July 2014. Also starring Garrett Hedlund as LCDR John Fitzgerald, Jai Courtney as Charlton Hugh "Cup" Cupernell, Maddalena Ischiale as Louise Zamperini, Vincenzo Amato as Anthony and Luke Treadaway as Miller. It is a pretty amazing story, self- proclaimed regular guy, who competed in the Olympics, survived 47 days of exhaustion and starvation at sea, capture and torture, and being singled out for special punishment in POW camps, Jolie directs conventionally, but really draws you in with the visceral scenes of struggle, balanced with some lighter moments, a most interesting wartime drama based on a true story. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing. Very good!