Carried by Suffering

Rating: 7/10 (18 February 2015)

There is one point in this movie where its figure, Louis Zamperini, is about to give up and decided to surrender himself to God in a middle of a harsh storm. Unbroken claims in the end that this is a journey of discovering true faith, but after that crucial scene, the movie almost forgot (or mostly implied) about that thematic potential until it reprises at the epilogue. Over-sentimentalizing this subject is definitely not everyone's favorite choice, but it is one interesting side that seems important to explore more, especially for acknowledging the person's prime motivation. As a biopic, the movie goes to a typical prestigious mode where it's enough to showcase the nobility of the man, but it skillfully realizes his struggle during war, which alone made it absorbing. Although biographies cut out to be better than this type of standard, it still manages to be compelling.
Before all of the unpleasant parts happen, the film kinda rushed Zamperini's days of growing up. He was once a young rebellious kid who was suddenly changed by a new career. This certain flashback seem to been used only as a basic information of where he came from. There wasn't much of a development within those memories. It's intriguing to know more of Louis' relationship with his brother other than his support with his sprinting talent. His issues with his parents is also easily resolved by this case. But that is understandable, though also less engaging, which deserves to be told better. It's better when he is among the lost survivors, interacting to the people he is stuck with. Even though these characters aren't well developed, the script finds ways to make each of their moments worth settling into.
The best of the film is when they are suffering. The direction lingers the worst of their experience. It's not the easiest thing to watch, but these are the parts where the movie becomes real effective, and that is thankfully what most of the film is. A stronger sequence is when they are stranded in an ocean, not knowing what exact threat is about to come, while dealing with thirst and starvation. There's also a good speculation of them losing out control if they are isolated in a place by themselves.
The next step of the struggle is a survival from slavery in Japanese Navy prison camp. This leads the ordeal into a hate relationship with an abusive prison guard. This segment is interestingly put together, if only the antagonist was played by a much intimidating actor. Though, the Japanese characters are basically depicted as one-noted enemies that doesn't do beyond than torturing their prisoners and making them dishonor their country. But really, this is supposed to be a realm of pain. The acting is pleasantly less showy than a usual prestige drama would ask: Jack O'Connell convincingly shows what this man has been through, with modesty, which is easy enough to join along his survival's cruelty.
Unbroken is pretty hard to deal with whether it's supposed to be good or not. At its best, it's actually a compelling survival film; supported by a slick direction and exquisite cinematography. At its worst; it's a character study that lacks the rest of its important human elements. Sure, the pain is easily felt on screen, but the resilience remains to be a conventional picture of inspiration. We can believe a person who can roll with these punches, but we also found out that he is a man who will only leave this struggle with true honor. And the movie doesn't get the chance to get around with that, or at least show a point where his spirit has gone too fragile to keep moving forward. That would have been much powerful. But Unbroken works best as an epic, it may not be as impacting as tries to be, but it sure is one grand experience.