Unbroken

2014

Unbroken

Critics Consensus

Unbroken is undoubtedly well-intentioned, but it hits a few too many of the expected prestige-pic beats to register as strongly as it should.

51%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 224

70%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 53,225

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Movie Info

Academy Award (R) winner Angelina Jolie directs and produces Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII-only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. Director Jolie began shooting some of the most dramatic and challenging scenes on Wednesday, October 16, on location far out at sea in Moreton Bay, Australia, with Zamperini (O'Connell) and his fellow airmen-Phil (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mac (Finn Wittrock)-having impossibly survived being adrift in the open Pacific for several weeks. Working with cameras on a floating rig in choppy waters and braving the elements, with actors dieting for months to appear as depleted as their characters, Jolie completed a successful first day of a location shoot that promises to be rigorous and uniquely challenging. Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand's ("Seabiscuit: An American Legend") enormously popular book, Unbroken brings to the big screen Zamperini's unbelievable and inspiring true story about the resilient power of the human spirit. Starring alongside O'Connell, Gleeson and Wittrock are Garrett Hedlund and John Magaro as fellow POWs who find an unexpected camaraderie during their internment, Alex Russell as Zamperini's brother, Pete, and in his English-language feature debut, Japanese actor Miyavi as the brutal camp guard known only to the men as "The Bird." The film is produced by Jolie, as well as Matthew Baer (City by the Sea), Erwin Stoff (The Day the Earth Stood Still) and Clayton Townsend (This Is 40). Leading the accomplished behind-the-scenes crew is 10-time Oscar (R)-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall). Academy Award (R) winners Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men) rewrote the screenplay from earlier drafts by William Nicholson (Les Misérables) and Richard LaGravenese (HBO's Behind the Candelabra).

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Cast

Jack O'Connell
as Louis Zamperini
Domhnall Gleeson
as Phil
Finn Wittrock
as Mac
Miyavi
as Watanabe
Garrett Hedlund
as Fitzgerald
Jai Courtney
as Cup
Takamasa Ishihara
as Watanabe
Maddalena Ischiale
as Louise
Vincenzo Amato
as Anthony
John Magaro
as Tinker
Luke Treadaway
as Miller
Ross Anderson
as Blackie
Louis McIntosh
as Harris
CJ Valleroy
as Young Louie
John D'Leo
as Young Pete
Alex Russell
as Older Pete
Jordan Patrick Smith
as Clift
Spencer Rocco Lofranco
as Harry Brooks
Stephen J. Douglas
as Clarence Douglas
Marcus Vanco
as Lambert
Dylan Watson
as Engineer
Ryan Ahern
as Glassman
Ross Langley
as Mitchell
Michael Whalley
as Stan Pillsbury
Anthony Phelan
as Priest
David Roberts
as Officer Collier
Sandy Winton
as Coach
Jack Marshall
as Young Bully
Sean McCarthy
as Young Bully
Chris Ovens
as Young Bully
Oliver Wright
as Young Bully
Kuni Hashimoto
as Kwajalein Officer
Shinji Ikefuji
as Japanese Translator
Shinji Ogata
as Kwajalein Guard
Taka Uematsu
as Kwajalein Guard
Jason R. Goode
as Radio Tokyo Man
Yutaka Izumihara
as Radio Tokyo Man
Erich Chikashi-Linzbichler
as Japanese Radio Host
Masako Fouquet
as Elegant Woman
Jiro Funamoto
as Omori Guard
Kunisha Goto
as Omori Guard
Katsuhito Nojiri
as Omori Guard
Katsuichi Shike
as Omori Guard
Atsuto Kitanobo
as Omori Running Guard
Shingo Usami
as Corporal Kono
Hiroshi Kasuga (II)
as Naoetsu Guard
Yoji Tatsuta
as Naoetsu Guard
Ryuzaburo Naruse
as Naoetsu Guard
Talia Mano
as Young Sylvia
Savannah Lamble
as Teen Sylvia
Allan Gibson
as Scots
Alice Roberts
as Young Virginia
Jeffery Travis
as Scots
Sophie Dalah
as Teen Virginia
Morgan Griffin
as Beautiful Young Blonde
Gulliver Page
as Waist Gunner
Damien Bryson
as Green Hornet Crew
Jesse Turner
as Green Hornet Radio Man
Kristopher Bos
as POW Officer
Geoffrey Evans
as POW Officer
Nick Smith
as Enlisted POW
Tom Hobbs
as U.S. Naval Officer
Bangalie Keita
as Jesse Owens
Brooklan Frkovic
as Olympic Runner
Brock Hastings Booth
as POW Officer
Steven Stanton
as Olympics Radio Announcer
Anthony Craig
as POW in Stress Position
Simon Noonan
as POW in Stress Position
James McEnery
as POW in Stress Position
Garrick Parkes
as Marine at Airbase
Brett Clancy
as Photographer at Olympics
Nicholas Farris
as Pistol Starter at Olympics
Stephen Stanton
as Olympics Radio Announcer
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Critic Reviews for Unbroken

All Critics (224) | Top Critics (47)

  • Unbroken is an odyssey detailing a harrowing ordeal and insurmountable odds. But this polished story feels conventional, overly long and not sufficiently involving. [Full review in Japanese]

    Dec 19, 2016 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Claudia Puig

    The Asahi Shimbun GLOBE (Japan)
    Top Critic

  • Unbroken falls short of the epic war drama and sweeping testament-to-the-human-spirit it strives to be.

    Jan 21, 2016 | Full Review…

    Lenika Cruz

    The Atlantic
    Top Critic

  • It is a handsome film, bleak and dark and elegantly filmed told with a mixture of intensity and something like restraint, even distance.

    Jan 16, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Philippa Hawker

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • "Unbroken" is a rousing old-fashioned yarn with numerous exciting set-pieces and an uncomplicated hero you root for all the way through. It's entertaining throughout and made with a high level of technical skill.

    Jan 4, 2015 | Full Review…

    Andrew O'Hehir

    Salon.com
    Top Critic

  • A straightforward and entirely commendable story about the triumph of the human spirit, etc.

    Jan 2, 2015 | Full Review…

    J. R. Jones

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Given its subject, it should have been great, but it turns out to be simply good.

    Dec 29, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Randy Myers

    San Jose Mercury News
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (224)

Audience Reviews for Unbroken

  • May 24, 2017
    There are four storylines here and each one would've made a whole film if done originally. Instead they are crunched together, each story cribbing shorthand from other films, each played very big ... and yet you've seen it all before. And that muffles the intent. For instance, there's a direct steal from Jaws in the work. You immediately recognize the steal and watch for it to play differently, but it doesn't. You feel gypped.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 29, 2016
    An undeniably fascinating true story, with a more than adequate lead performance. Sadly the actual telling of the story is rather laboured and Angelina Jolie's direction feels undisciplined.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
  • Mar 03, 2016
    Unbroken is relentless, brutal and has some good set pieces. Unfortunately at times it feels kind of soulless and doesn't really grip you as intended.
    Mr N Super Reviewer
  • Jun 02, 2015
    Solid film...great story. I've heard that it's not a good adaptation of the book, but without having read it, I can't say. Still though, I thought this was a pretty good film, and worth seeing.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
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