St. Louis

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2015)

This film is recommended. (Rating: ☆☆☆)
In this year of biographies, Unbroken breaks no new ground. It's a familiar tale of an American hero battling inhumane obstacles that would kill the normal man. In this case, it is the true life story of Louis Zamperini and his horrific days as a prisoner-of-war.
The film follows the winning formula of most biopics beginning with a troublesome adolescence, traumatic circumstances that lead to international glory, and an inspirational upbeat ending complete with actual photographs of the real person in the end credits. However, the story being told, with a screenplay contributed to four major talents (the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson), is riveting drama and presented with much style and restraint.
Solidly at the helm is Angelina Jolie, making an impressive directing debut. The film is a huge undertaking and the actress wisely surrounds herself with an A-team of artisans that deliver superb production values. The gifted Alexandre Desplat gives the film a haunting quality that never overpowers the story. Roger Deakins' masterful cinematography transports the film to a high level of artistry with his stunning use of stark shadows and silhouettes. Unbroken may be convention storytelling, but it is a beautifully crafted filmgoing experience.
Most of the time, Jolie tends to play it safe, never straying out of the box. She keeps to the true-and-true formula similar to most WII tales: show the heroism and suffering but stress the inner strength, grit, and that all-inclusive American spirit. She lets her admiration of the man cloud her judgment, showing more saint than needed. This skews the film's emotion balance of the story and makes it seem forced and manipulative.
Jolie sets up the story into three distinct sections (using direct links of some classic films serving as her inspiration): the early years leading to Olympic fame (with a Chariots of Fire vibe, slow-motion intact) and the standard war saga, complete with sea survival tale(ala Jaws), and a prisoner-of-war epic story (saluting The Bridge of the River Kwai).
Jack O'Connell is very good as Mr Zamperini. He gives a heartfelt performance that spans nearly 20 years. Most of the other roles, except for Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock, are incidental and walking stereotypes. Especially so, is Takamasa Ishihara as the sadistic prison captain, Watanabe. As written, the role seems far too evil and one-note (although the actual war criminal was even more brutal than depicted here). The actor tries to overcome the cliché with varying success.
Unbroken is a solid war film that celebrates one man's remarkable life while elevating him to sainthood. It carries gung-ho patriotism under its sleeve and undercuts reality along the way, making the man into a myth and the film into a grand testament of courage and valor. GRADE: B