Jolie tries, but it feels rehashed.

Rating: 6/10 (5 January 2015)

I haven't seen Angelina Jolie's previous efforts in her directorial career. But for the most part I didn't hate this film, but it feels very familiar in a lot of ways.
Jack O'Connell portrays Louis "Louie" Zamperini, a US Olympian and a US Army bombardier. His plane eventually crashes into the ocean and is stranded for 47 days, with only two crewman Mac and Phil, respectively portrayed by Finn Wittrock and Domhnall Gleeson. He is then captured by the Japanese empire and is tortured and abused by Mutsuhiro "The Bird" Watanabe, played by Takamasa Ishihara.
The opening act, provides us with sincere and engaging flashbacks, then we get a series of been there and done that clichés. When they are stranded it provides a Cast Away vibe, but it does provide some amusing moments where they capture a bird, a shark, and a fish for food. We move to the second act where they are captured by the Japanese, Louis is separated to a different concentration camp and there he gets tortured by the Imperial Japanese Army sergeant Mutsuhiro "The Bird" Watanabe. This is where Angelina Jolie looses the focus of the film and gets very one noted.
Though the scenes where Louis is tortured and physically abused by his rival "The Bird," is quite impactful, there are one too many and at a certain point it begins to feel old and also feels very overkill. I did some research before on his life and the book, and the script does not measure up. The transition of spiritual awakening and strength in God Louis discovers does not translate well on the big screen, and to be quite frank I don't recall even a mention or a nod to that. Upon viewing this film I couldn't help but notice that this film has a very Clint Eastwood vibe. This film is something I think Clint Eastwood probably could have directed and its as if Angelina Jolie was taking notes while she was working with him on Changeling(which is a movie I'd recommend).
The acting is fine. Everyone is good here, particularly Jack O'Connell. He does a great job with what he's given with. I haven't seen much of his other works, but he carries the film quite well. Domhnall Gleeson as Phil provides a decent supporting role, as is Garrett Hedlund as John Fitzgerald has decent moments here and there. Takamasa Ishihara who portrays "The Bird," does a good job with the role he's given with, but he's just a typical, ruthless Japanese sergeant.
With that being said, the acting can only cover up the characterization these characters so far, in way they're kinda flat. We don't really see the struggle that they're dealing with besides a few lines and dialog about it. I didn't at all feel totally connected with anyone in the film. As a matter of fact, Louis's flashbacks are the only thing that actually comes close to humanizing anyone in the whole film.
Jolie tries, I commend her for that, but it's too familiar and too one noted. I didn't even get any theme of forgiveness, which I believe Jolie stated in an interview somewhere that this film is about forgiveness. It rather explains all this at the end in the form of title cards.
To sum it up, Unbroken is mediocre film at best, sprinkled with some decent moments. Picture a terrible, undercooked cake batter, but with a thin layer of tasty frosting that sort of makes up for the batter.
6.6/10