Though at first it may seem like a typical Olympic highlight reel with, Tom Brokaw doing a dramatic voice over and interview footage of Louis Zamperini mixed with black and white pictures of his track career and his time in the army, it soon becomes clear that there’s something more cinematic at play. What passes is a rather unusual trailer, one that mixes documentary footage with images from Angelina Jolie’s latest film, Unbroken. Check it out:
Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s book: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Jolie’s movie Unbroken is the story of Depression-era child Louis or “Lou” Zamperini who, after being a troublemaker in school, found his calling in track and became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympics track team that traveled to Berlin for the 1936 Olympics. He didn’t win a medal, but he was expected to win a medal in the 1940 Olympics scheduled for Tokyo which were cancelled due to World War II. Zamperini instead enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and after a harrowing aircraft accident in the height of World War II, he and two other crewmen were able to survive in a raft for 47 days before being rescued/captured by the Japanese navy and forced to serve in a prisoner-of-war camp. Hillenbrand’s book explores the abuses and attacks that Zamperini and his compatriots suffered, especially under the sadistic warden nicknamed “The Bird,” who tried his hardest to break Zamperini
English actor Jack O’Connell will play the younger Zamperini in Jolie’s adaptation, which will also star Domhnall Gleeson (About Time), Finn Wittrock (All My Children), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), John Magaro (My Soul to Take), Alex Russell (Chronicle), Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard) and Japanese actor Miyavi, in his English debut. This release will be the Jolie’s second directorial feature following her 2011 debut In the Land Of Blood And Honey. Jolie has talked about her interest in working with Zamperini, who as mentioned appears in the trailer, and making this film.
“I read Laura Hillenbrand’s brilliant book, and I was so moved by Louie Zamperini’s heroic story, I immediately began to fight for the opportunity to make this film. Louie is a true hero and a man of immense humanity, faith and courage. I am deeply honored to have the chance to tell his inspiring story.”
Unbroken will be released in theaters on Christmas Day, distributed by Universal Pictures.
Leave a Comment