Unbroken

 

Unbroken 2015

• Director: Angelina Jolie
• Based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand
• Cast: Jack O’Connell, Miyavi, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Jack O’Connell – ’71, United, This Is England
• Miyavi – Kong Skull Island
• Domhnall Gleeson – Star Wars, The Revenant, Brooklyn, Ex Machina, About Time, Harry Potter, True Grit, Never Let Me Go, Perrier’s Bounty
• Wittrock – Judy, La La Land, Winter’s Tale
• Why? I’m a sucker for the Olympics and Jolie usually makes good film.
• Seen: 16 November 2022 

       Sigh. Another war film. Hopefully this one will not be a) too nationalistic b) filled with endless battle scenes c) totally male dominated d) macho e) religious.

1. Fighter pilot dropping bombs on Japan.
2. Trouble-making/bullied school kid.
3. Track star, running faster than the bullies.
4. Still bullied, called a damn dago, but officially fastest runner in the US. Off to the Olympics.
5. Germany 1936. The kid, Louie (O’Connoll), astonishes the world by winning the gold and breaking the world record.
6. Back to WWII. The plane crashes into the sea. Louie, Phil (Gleeson) and Mac (Wittrock) survive. Rubber raft for days and days. Storms, sharks, sunburn, starvation.
7. Rescue. POW camp. Sadistic guards.

        OK, I thought it was the other way around. POW first, then Olympics star. Never mind. No more spoilers. What about a-e?

       a) Not too bad, considering the subject. b) too many in the beginning. c) totally, but again, the subject. d) not so bad, again, the subject. e) well, yeah.

       It’s a skilfully crafted film, engaging at times, but I can’t help wondering why Jolie chose this from all the possible films to make. I probably won’t need to see it again. 

3* of 5