Unbroken (2014)

After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

Director:

Angelina Jolie

Writers:

Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack O'Connell, Miyavi, Domhnall Gleeson

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack O'Connell	...	Louis Zamperini
Domhnall Gleeson	...	Phil
Garrett Hedlund	...	Fitzgerald
Miyavi	...	Watanabe (as Takamasa Ishihara)
Finn Wittrock	...	Mac
Jai Courtney	...	Cup
Maddalena Ischiale	...	Louise
Vincenzo Amato	...	Anthony
John Magaro	...	Tinker
Luke Treadaway	...	Miller
Louis McIntosh	...	Harris
Ross Anderson	...	Blackie
C.J. Valleroy	...	Young Louie
John D'Leo	...	Young Pete
Alex Russell	...	Older Pete

Storyline

The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war. Only to be captured by the Japanese navy after a plane crash in the Pacific. During his capture, Louie must continue his fight by surviving through the war.

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Plot Keywords:

plane crash | torture | prisoner of war | emaciation | prison camp | 

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Taglines:

The unbelievable true story.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence including intense sequences of brutality, and for brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese Italian

Release Date:

25 December 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Unbroken

Filming Locations:

Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,621,445, 28 December 2014, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$115,637,895, 14 March 2015

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$161,459,297, 14 March 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Arts Entertainment, Jolie Pas, Legendary Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The plane in this film, as in the actual history, gained the nickname the Green Hornet, after the radio hero-who teamed with a Japanese partner.

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Goofs

The US Army Air Corp DC-3 at the end of the film has Australian registration (VH-HID) all Australian aircraft registration's begin with VH.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Phil: [in cockpit] We are here.
Cup: [over radio] At 8,000 feet. This is it, boys.
Phil: [over radio] You got it, Zamp?
Louis Zamperini: [dialing in bombing scope] Roger.
Lambert: You hit this one, drinks are on me.
Louis Zamperini: I ain't going to a bar with you, handsome. You confuse all the broads.
Mac: [wolf-whistles]
Phil: Get your cameras, boys. I'm gonna light it up like Christmas.

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Connections

References The Hill (1965)

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Soundtracks

Olympic Kick
Written by Alexandre Desplat

User Reviews

First half superb - last half not

Unbroken opens with an extended sequence of a bombing run by a US B-17 crew against Japanese targets in the Pacific, and the subsequent attack on the bomber by a squad of Japanese Zero fighters. This aerial combat sequence is one of the most harrowing of it's kind I have ever seen. You actually feel like you are in that plane experiencing that terror and exhilaration first hand. This segment cannot be over praised, it is that good. Another sequence in a bomber, where the plane experiences massive engine failure and crashes into the sea with the crew all on board is also very well done. The flashback segments on Zamperini's running career are also fine, the extended sequence depicting three airmen's time on a life raft floating in the middle of the Pacific ocean is well done. So far it's all good.

Then we get to the meat of the film, the prisoner of war scenes, and the film becomes a ponderous slog through torture and brutal beatings of the main character by an effeminate and sadistic Japanese captor. This is essentially the entire second half of the film, and it becomes monotonous and numbing.

The photography, sound , and music in this film were all award-caliber, and Jolie shows great promise as a mainstream director.