Movie Muser

Ever wondered what a mix of Chariots Of Fire, Life of Pi and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence would produce? No, me neither. Angelina Jolie’s sophomore directorial outing is clearly well-intentioned and has many things going for it, but is consistently let down by a lack of pace and insight, and a script which seems to just be a tribute to other war movies complete with every single cliché. Sadistic Japanese guards? Tick. Plucky Brits and Aussie prisoners? Tick. Back story of wayward boy becoming sporting hero? Tick. The result is almost terminally dull.

It tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, the American son of poor Italian immigrants who finds his calling in athletics – he runs fast because he is always being chased by the police or bullies. He competes in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, too early for success but that will all change at the next one. Cut to Louis as a gunner in a B-52 in the Far East conflict. When his plane crashes into the ocean he and two other airman are stranded in a liferaft for over a month – cue Life of Pi-style daydreams and shark attacks.

When they are picked up by a Japanese warship and sent to a prisoner of war camp Louis comes face to face with his nemesis, Watanabe, a corporal who he recognizes from the Olympics. Here we get into classic Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence territory – Watanabe is particularly sadistic to Louis, with a weird undercurrent of sexual tension, and the two become embroiled in a strange game of trying to break each other’s resolve.

Presumably Jolie’s intention is some sort of message of peace and forgiveness even in extreme circumstances, but the script falls into clichés far too often. Strangely it’s written by the Coen brothers, but there is little evidence of their idiosyncratic influence here. It’s all ‘never give up’-type stuff which becomes tiresome very quickly.

Jolie presumably had a blank cheque and certainly spent it on the look of the film, which is fantastic. There are several amazing sequences, especially the plane crash and some great work in the ocean where the men fight off sharks, and the details of the military equipment and uniforms are spot on. The acting too is flawless, especially Ishihara as the evil Watanabe, permanently whacking Louis with his stick while whispering into his ear. O’Connell is good as Louis, although he looks like a GQ model even while starving and covered in blood.

Jolie has been accused of racism and of being talentless by a press pack sniffing blood. That’s a little harsh on both counts, but what is clear is that she needs a much sharper script – and editor – to make her point heard.

Overall verdict: Overdone war movie which calls on too many of the genre clichés to make its mark as a stand-alone piece, with the usual set pieces and storyline. It’s far too long and brings little more to an already-stuffed genre, but there are glimpses of what could have been a far better film.

Reviewer: Mike Martin