Unbroken

Just a few years ago, Louis Zamperini was a name generally lost in the annals of history. He accomplished a lot, one remarkable thing after another but in the grand scheme of things? LOST in the history books. Then, a little book called Unbroken, by author Laura Hillenbrand, was published back in 2010 and EVERYBODY knew the name. It was and is a great read, a tribute to the human spirit. A huge bestseller, it was only a matter of time, right? For what you ask? For the film adaptation of course. That's today's review, 2014's Unbroken.

This is a movie that defies a straightforward plot description. It tells the slightly condensed story of Louis Zamperini (Jack O'Connell), a young Italian-American man who grew up with his family in California. Putting a troublesome childhood behind him, Louis finds his niche as a runner, eventually becoming a world-class runner who competes at the 1936 Olympics. But this stubborn, fiery young man is about to be tested as the world is thrown into WWII as a bombardier on an American bomber flying missions in the Pacific. That plane will go down with no warning in the Pacific, he will fight through a survival ordeal adrift fro longer than anyone ever has, and be moved from one brutal Japanese prison camp to another over two-plus years. What helps him survive one horrific ordeal after another? What pushes him to keep on fighting, keep on hoping and keep on surviving?

I loved Hillenbrand's non-fiction book, racing through it in a week or so. It was a book that raced through my entire family with my parents, cousins, aunts and uncles also reading it. So to say I was excited when I found out it was being adapted into a film? Yeah, an understatement. The talent assembled to film that adaptation is a big reason for the excitement, starting with Angelina Jolie directing and Joel and Ethan Coen writing the screenplay with Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson. Just because Louis's story is so all-enveloping, any book to film adaptation is a daunting task. How do you encapsulate so much in a reasonably timed movie? I think Jolie did as good a job as possible with this remarkable true story. It's not a movie you're necessarily going to love. Instead, it's one you watch and appreciate, and for me, question how Louis and all those around him made it through World War II in a Japanese prison camp.

This is a brutal, uncomfortable movie to watch, and that's as a PG-13 film. If this was an R-rated film...my goodness. It would be nearly impossible to watch. Jolie's direction is solid throughout, a personal story of survival that does an impressive job navigating Louis' life. O'Connell is the star, but through some flashbacks we see Louie growing up (C.J. Valleroy as young Louie, John D'Leo his older brother), and how he goes from a street punk of sorts to a world class runner. With cinematographer Roger Deakins shooting the film, it's a beautiful finished product, artsy at times without hitting your head with its art. Composer Alexandre Desplat's score is okay, nothing too flashy but doing a good job supporting the ever-increasing drama.

So we've got a feisty, cocky Italian-American young man as a main character. Who should we pick? How about a red-headed and generally unknown British actor?!? I kid. O'Connell does a fine job as Louis, sporting some dyed jet black hair and some skin-darkening makeup. This is O'Connell's first big role in a major film, and he doesn't disappoint. He brings that right amount of charm and likability to a character early on that goes a long way as we see the hell Louis is put through after his bomber goes down. Dramatically, it is quite a performance, but more importantly, it is an incredibly moving emotional and physical part. From his days adrift at sea to trying to survive the POW camps with little food while being progressively beaten down by his Japanese captors -- quite literally -- we see O'Connell's Louis start to wither away. One of the most moving scenes -- and most uncomfortable -- has Louis forced to hold a heavy wooden rail tie above his head. If he drops it, a guard will shoot him. In terms of survival, it doesn't get anymore cut and dry than that.

Years down the road, I think the role that will be most well-remember is that of Takamasa Ishihara as Watanabe, a brutal, sadistic Japanese guard who earns the nickname 'the Bird' from the prisoners (because what they actually call him would produce worse repercussions) and takes a liking to Louis. What's that mean? He wants to break him down, to grind him down to nothing at all. This isn't just a job though. The Bird enjoys what he does. He enjoys torturing and pushing and beating the prisoners. It's a terrifying performance, one I'm guessing will stir some Oscar buzz. The crazy part? Ishihara is actually a Japanese singer and songwriter with little in the way of acting experience. Well, if the whole music thing doesn't work out....yeah, he's got a future in acting.

Those are the two key parts where the focus remains throughout. It's a better movie because both O'Connell and Ishihara are relative unknowns. We come into 'Unbroken' with no preconceived notions about either actor. Who else to look for? Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock are excellent with O'Connell as Louis' fellow survivors adrift at sea just trying to hold out until some sort of help (any help really) arrives with Jai Courtney playing another member of the crew. One of the more recognizable faces, Garrett Hedlund plays Fitzgerald, the highest ranking prisoner at the POW camp Louis is sent to. Maddalena Ischiale (Louis' mom), Vincenzo Amato (Louis' dad) and Alex Russell (Louis' brother) play Zamperini's family, but they're not given much to do other than look worried and/or be supportive. No big stars overall across the cast, and the movie is the better for it.

The movie is at its strongest when following Louis' 47-day ordeal adrift at sea and then his two and a half years as a prisoner of war in the Pacific and later in Japan. Reading the book, these segments were excruciating to watch at times, and Jolie does a fine job bringing the real-life story to film. I think the best choice she could have made was focusing mainly on Louis' involvement in WWII. It's just that; focused. I don't know if it is a movie I will revisit anytime soon, but it is an excellent, well-done, moving story that shows how powerful history can be. There are thousands and millions of stories that history has swallowed up over the years. It's cool, informative, moving and educational to see a story like that of Louis Zamperini brought to life. Easy to recommend the film, and if you haven't already, definitely give the book a try.

Unbroken (2014): ***/****

Salt

One of the best trilogies around, the Jason Bourne movies did their fair share of reinventing the action genre.  They weren't so much stories as one linear chase scene with an occasional flashback.  This was action at its leanest, chases on foot and in cars, shootouts with police, gunmen and assassins, and epically physical one-on-one hand to hand combat.  It was the rare trilogy that actually got better with each new movie.  If there was ever a female version of Jason Bourne, I think I saw it in 2010's Salt.

Salt star Angelina Jolie is that rare movie star who can effortlessly switch back and forth between genres, jumping from popcorn flicks like this one or the Tomb Raider series to heavy dramatic roles like Changeling or even using her voice in animated fare like Kung Fu Panda. She is in the news as much for her relationship with Brad Pitt and her kids and her charity work that her acting can get lost in the shuffle.  As an actress, she's underrated, but personally she's always looked the most comfortable in action movies, and Salt is no exception.

CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is heading home to spend her anniversary with her husband (August Diehl) when she's called back to lead one more interrogation, a Russian, Orlov (Daniel Olbrychski) who claims to have news that could cripple the U.S.  Upon questioning, Salt thinks nothing of it but as she leaves the room, Orlov claims that an undercover Russian agent is going to assassinate the visiting Russian president in New York City later that day.  The agent's name? Evelyn Salt. She claims innocence to fellow agent and friend, Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber), but is kept as a prisoner by FBI agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) until the truth can be figured out. Instead of sticking around to prove her innocence, Salt escapes, staying one step ahead of her pursuers.  Winters doesn't think she could be a Russian agent, but the evidence starts to build against her.  Maybe, just maybe, could Salt actually be a sleeper agent as part of a vast Russian conspiracy to cripple American interests?

I'm open to just about any type of movie, but I can always appreciate a simple, straightforward, big budget action movie that has no pretensions about being anything but an action movie.  No message, no ulterior motive, just over the top, ridiculous action that gets your adrenaline and blood flowing.  So like the Bourne movies, that's what Salt is.  At just 100 minutes, no time is wasted with back stories or subplots that go nowhere.  A few very brief flashbacks explain some of Salt's history, but they're over so quickly it doesn't slow any momentum down.  Yes, there is a twist late that really doesn't come as a surprise (it seemed really obvious to me), and there are plot holes that seem easy to fix, but the pacing is so lightning-fast you won't even notice until afterward.

Jolie proved her acting chops in the Lara Croft Tomb Raider series and just improved her credibility with other action flicks like Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Wanted (which sucked by the way).  She is more than credible here from the start, the secret agent who you're not quite sure of her intentions.  It doesn't hurt in the least that Jolie is drop-dead gorgeous although she does look freakishly thin at times.  But in the action scenes, she again handles her own without any obvious uses of a stunt double.  If there's a fight, she's part of it, taking down anyone and everything trying to stop her from completing her mission.  The character certainly keeps you guessing as to her intentions, and the ending leaves things open for a sequel. It would be unnecessary, but the last few minutes are very cool with a memorable final shot, Jolie: Action Star.  Schreiber and Ejiofor get the thankless parts of the schlubs who have to chase her, but both actors are pros and make the most of it.

So in Female Bourne, Jolie leads the police, CIA, Russians, FBI, Secret Service on a man hunt throughout New York City and Washington D.C.  The action is hands-down the best part of the movie with a wide variety of chases and fights.  An extended chase early has Jolie's Salt jumping from an overpass onto a passing semi-truck and being forced to jump to another high speed truck when a roadblock is set up in front of her.  Yes, there had to be some CGI and green screen work here because I don't care how badass Jolie is (and she is), there's no way a studio green lights an action sequence like that.  The computer/stunt work is handled so seamlessly though it's hard to even tell the difference.  That's all of the action here.  Of course it is all ridiculous and not at all realistic, but Salt makes you believe that maybe, just maybe, this could happen.

The story does take a surprising turn about 50 minutes in, and not necessarily for the better.  Director Phillip Noyce rights the ship quickly enough that it isn't a complete loss, but there's no denying that the second half of the movie just isn't as high-quality as the first half.  That's a relative complaint though because the first half is a solid blueprint of what an action movie can be.  For all the faults, see this one for Angelina Jolie in kickass mode as Jason Bourne, I mean Evelyn Salt.

Salt <---trailer (2010): ***/****