Unbroken

The Gist: Famous Olympic runner Louis Zamperini joins the armed forces during World War II, but ends up in a plane crash over the Pacific ocean. Most of the crew dies, except for him and a couple others. After almost 50 days at sea, the survivors are captured by the Japanese navy and brought to a prisoner-of-war camp, where they will have to fight for survival all over again.

This was Angelina Jolie's second round in the director's chair and, although I didn't see her first effort, she held her own here. The movie was obviously physically challenging, given both theme and locations, so I think she proved herself more than capable.

Watching the three survivors waste away in a raft for all that time one can't help but wonder how they did it, but knowing this is based on a true story, all doubts wash away.

Jack O'Connell delivers a performance for the ages, flanked by an excellent Miyavi as his tormentor.

The Bottom Line: Unbroken is a good movie, well made, and I usually recommend movies based on actual events in order to deepen one's understanding of the human condition and of historical events. In this instance, both will leave you tense and astonished.

Grade: 8