After everyone has opened presents and eaten more than thought humanly possible, Christmas evening lights up with cinematic excitement for many families. Of all films that are opening on Christmas, Unbroken has caught my special attention. Unbroken, written by the legendary Coen Brothers (O Brother Where Art Thou, Fargo) and directed by Angelina Jolie, is a true story about Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O’Connell), who is an Olympic athlete before enlisting in the Air Force during WWII. Zamperini’s plane goes down in the Pacific ocean, where he and other men are discovered by the Japanese Navy and imprisoned in a military camp. It is revealed that Zamperini is an Olympic athlete and the Japanese officers torture Zamperini in efforts break the spirits of the other prisoners.
The Coens are known for their penetrating examinations of humanity’s darkest side, and sometimes the good does not emerge victorious. The subject matter of Unbroken dictates that there be an uplifting end to a grueling journey. Jolie as an actress has a fondness for telling little-known true stories of human courage, (Changeling, A Mighty Heart) and as one of Hollywood’s most visible stars people are eager to see how she handles her first big-budget feature film. It could be a great recipe for success in telling this story of resilience in the face of brutality and the unknown.
AMC Pacific Place 11 600 Pine Street #400 Seattle, WA 98101
Unbroken
Director: Angelina Jolie
Cast: Jack O Connell
MPAA Rating: PG 13
Run Time: 137 mins
Release Year: 2014
Country Of Origin: USA
