Posts tagged Japanese prison camps
MOVIE REVIEW: Unbroken
MOVIE REVIEW: Unbroken

The scope of this year's slate of biographical films culminates with "Unbroken," the story of Olympian and World War II veteran Louis "Louie" Zamperini.  Of all of this year's biopics, this is the one with the highest profile that you've been hearing about for the better part of two years.  This is the one getting the widest release, right here on Christmas Day.  This is the one with the most continuous Oscar hope since the end of last year's Academy Awards.  Even on this very website, in an editorial of long-range Oscar picks for 2015, on the day after the 2014 Oscars, I handicapped and predicted "Unbroken" as the most likely eventual Best Picture frontrunner.  Was all of the hype and all of the anticipation rewarded?  Would it rank a success or a failure as a biographical film?

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2014, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanLouis Zamperini, Louie Zamperini, Angelina Jolie, Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleason, Jai Courtney, The Bird, The Railway Man, Unbroken, Ethan Coen, Joel Coeh, The Coen Brothers, Japanese prison camps, Olympics, World War II, Roger Deakins, Alexandre Desplat Comment
MOVIE REVIEW: The Railway Man
MOVIE REVIEW: The Railway Man

In my opinion, very few actors have established themselves with their performance history to the point that their presence alone is an automatic sign of elevated quality towards an entire film.  Call it "street cred" on a casual level or "artistic integrity" on a professional level, but few actors and actresses are near-guarantees for solid and award-worthy performances every time they take on a role.  By my account, Academy Award winner Colin Firth has elevated to become one of those rare performers.  He's outstanding in everything he takes on, comedy or drama, and the films he chooses become better with him being there.

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2014, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanA Single Man, War Horse, Hiroyuki Sanada, Patti Lomax, Malaysia, World War II, Eric Lomax, The Railway Man, film review, Jeremy Irvine, 2014 Spring Movies, Nicole Kidman, life lessons from movies, life lessons, Stellan Skarsgard, Japanese prison camps, Autobiography, The King's Speech, movie commentary, Tanroh Ishida, life lessons from film, Colin Firth, POW, Thai-Burman Railway, movie reviewComment