Movie Review - Unbroken

Angelina Jolie directs the highly-anticipated Unbroken, a gripping bio-flick based on the life of Louis Zamperini who went from being an Olympic athlete to surviving a Japanese POW camp during WWII. The movie is beautifully done, although a little slow in parts, with great cinematography, special effects, and a moving score. The viewer is also introduced to a slew of young acting talent, most notably Domhnall Gleeson (Phil) and Garret Hedlund (Fitzgerald), both of whom I predict will become more visible in the coming years.

While lauded as a story of faith, Unbroken is more a tale of perseverance amongst the greatest of obstacles. Even though there were some nice Christian elements peppered throughout, there was no real focus on the power of God and faith in Jesus to overcome tremendous odds.  In my opinion, it was a missed opportunity that would have made the story stronger, taking it from the realm of “good” to “spectacular.” However, considering that the script was written by the Cohen brothers (Ethan and Joel) and that it was directed by Jolie, Unbroken can be considered a victory for the faith-based viewer. There was no sex, gratuitous violence, or nudity and no blasphemous language, despite being set during wartime. As many of us know, it is very unusual for Hollywood to deliver a movie of this genre and caliber with a PG13 rating.

The movie starts out with Louis (played by Jack O’Connell sporting jet black hair) being part of a US military bomber squad during WWII fighting the war with Japan. Fun-loving, handsome, and gregarious, Louis (pronounced “Louie”) is the glue that holds the men together when the enemy makes a surprise attack, riddling their plane with bullet holes. During great chaos and confusion, he has no fear but remains cool and level-headed, finding ways to keep the plane in the air so that he and his comrades can return safely to base without crashing into the Pacific Ocean. But as the tension increases in this action-packed scene opener, we discover that our brave, hopeful hero wasn’t always the model of perfection.

Through carefully placed flashbacks, we learn that Louis actually grew up fighting, stealing, running from the cops, and drinking moonshine whiskey, despite his strong Italian-Catholic background. His immigrant parents are incensed that their efforts to be successful and accepted in a hostile foreign country are exacerbated by their son’s bad behavior. Severe discipline, mandatory church attendance, and threats from the local police do little to get Louis to change. Only when his older brother, Pete, suggests that he join the high school track team do things take a turn. As it fate would have it, years of running from the police enabled Louis to excel at long-distance races.

Over time, Louis becomes a fierce competitor, learning to win racing events after starting out dead last. This tenacity and indomitable spirit take him all the way to the 1938 Olympic Games held in Berlin. They are also what get him through the horrors of a world war.  

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

For those viewers who are squeamish when it comes to war films, consider seeing this movie for the sheer joy of watching a man who refuses to give up on life when he has every reason to quit, shrivel up, and die. The obstacles begin almost immediately when Louis’ bomber squad crash lands in the Pacific. After a narrowly drowning, he somehow escapes and is one of three men to survive. The pilot, Phil, a fellow survivor, is a man of faith, and espouses his belief in God and the afterlife during their hours of baking in the sun while drifting over the waves in a life raft. In contrast, the other survivor, Mac, is filled with fear, which eventually seals his doom.

The days go on and on, and still there is no hope of rescue. With rations short, water low, and sharks circling (yes, there is a Jaws moment), death seems certain. One stormy night as Louis hangs on to the raft for dear life, he makes a pact with God, pledging to dedicate his life to Him should they survive the ordeal. The prayer is answered, but not in the way Louis had hoped. He and Phil are rescued and sent to a Japanese POW camp, which can only be described as a literal “hell on earth.” Beatings with a hard cane are the norm, as well as torture, starvation, and hard, manual labor that reduce the best of men to nothing other than brute beasts. Louis’ character is severely tested, as is that indomitable spirit that first revealed itself on the high school track years ago.

Takamasa Ishimhara shines as Watanabe, the Japanese commanding officer of the POW camp who is the epitome of evil. His innocent, androgynous appearance combined with his ruthless, psychopathic behavior make him a very sinister and memorable antagonist. With a sympathetic back story, the viewer has a slight understanding as to the genesis of his maniacal behavior, but still, one cannot fathom a human being so callously wicked.

Aware of Louis’ Olympic background, Watanabe does his best to break Louis’ spirit and belittle him in front of the other men, but to no avail. It seems that the more evil Watanabe heaps on Louis, the stronger Louis becomes. Just when things can’t seem to get any worse, they do, culminating in a powerful climax where a superhuman, Christ-like sacrificial strength enables Louis to cheat death. The faith message is very subtle in this scene and can be easily overlooked, but if one has eyes to see, it is there. Again, I would have liked to have seen a greater reference to Jesus in Louis’ over-all faith-walk, but the way Jolie presented his spiritual growth is effective, nonetheless.

Unbroken is entertaining and thought-provoking with an uplifting message that appeals to all ages. However, it remains to be seen how other Christians will view the faith elements in this story. As a note, I viewed the movie in a packed theater full of suburban Atlantans, and the ending was met with a hearty applause.  

College Road Trip, part 2 - Kentucky

I've never had the pleasure of visiting the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky, until today. Wow, what a beautiful campus!  All of us were very impressed! We had a great time touring this part of the country. Will have to see where she ends up!

College Road Trip, part 1 - Alabama

We're having a good time traveling the South and looking at schools for Rachel. First spot: U of Alabama. Beautiful school, great campus. Very impressed!

Movie Review: Hachi, A Dog's Tale

     Hachi, A Dog’s Tale is an endearing tear-jerker based on a true-life incident that took place in Japan in the 1920s. In this Americanized movie version, Richard Gere stars as the rescuer of an adorable Akita puppy that matures into a fiercely loyal companion. While a bit slow in parts, the theme of enduring commitment, devotion, and long-suffering touches the heart and makes for a great movie for all ages.

     I’ll confess, I’m a huge Gere fan and always have been, despite the controversies surrounding his private life. As an actor, I put him up there on my list of favorites, along with Russell Crowe and Tom Cruise. Yes, I will admit I’m a Cruise fan, too! But all that aside, I was delighted to see Gere convincingly play the pure-hearted, family man, since this is such a gross departure from his typical dark, immoral characters.

      In this G rated film, Gere is the quintessential good guy, Parker Wilson, a New England college professor who finds an adorable puppy at a train station. His wife, Cate (Joan Allen), is less than pleased to have a new dog in their pristine, antique-filled home and insists that he return it to the train station the next day. When Parker learns that the owner has yet to come forward, he takes the puppy to work where a Japanese colleague suggests that the two are meant to be together. Despite the implausibility of this notion, Parker’s heart is pricked, especially when he discovers the meaning of the mysterious Japanese symbol on the dog’s collar. It is the character for the number eight (pronounced hachi), signifying good fortune. Parker promptly opens up his heart and accepts the dog as his own, calling him Hachiko or Hachi for short.

     Once Cate sees how enamored her husband is with his new friend, she agrees to have it stay. There is a very tender scene where she watches Parker roughhousing with Hachi in the back yard. The viewer senses her revelation that this adorable, playful dog will provide some unspoken nurturing to the soul that extends beyond her capability as a devoted spouse. Sure enough, when the phone rings and a caller inquires about adopting Hachi, Cate finds herself saying that the dog already has an owner. Very touching.

     As Hachi grows, Parker attempts to teach the dog to fetch, but to no avail. It is clear the animal is intelligent, perhaps too intelligent for a mindless game that serves no purpose. And yet, when Parker makes his daily walk to work, Hachi takes on almost human characteristics, following him all the way to the train station like a clinging toddler. He refuses to leave until Parker walks him back to the house. This becomes a consistent routine, until finally Parker gives up and allows the dog to accompany him to the station. Hachi waits by the station entrance for a while and then wanders home only to return in the afternoon to greet Parker so they can walk home together. I felt like I was watching a gorgeously crafted documentary with beautiful, symphonic music as its backdrop and the allure of love and nature as its theme. Hachi’s adorable, yet sad expressions and intelligent tilts of the head tug at the heartstrings, signaling to the viewer that something awful is about to happen.

 **SPOILER ALERT**

     Like the Lassie episodes of old, Hachi has a canine sense that life is about to change. One winter morning, he detects danger lurking in the air and does his best to prevent Parker from going to work. As a last ditch effort, he grabs the long-forgotten ball, trying to engage Parker in a game of fetch. Surprised, Parker indulges Hachi, but then must head to the train station. Hachi barks up a storm, but Parker will not be swayed. He has a music class to teach and cannot be late. Little does he realize that this will be the last time the two will ever see each other.

     Because the pace and tone of the movie up to this point is somewhat slow and methodical, what happens next takes the viewer by total surprise. In a beautifully played scene, Parker teaches a room full of impressionable music students while squeezing Hachi’s ball in his hand. He waxes eloquent, posing the question of whether recorded music becomes tarnished because of technology’s inability to capture the experience of hearing a live performance. Are there some fleeting moments in life that cannot be truly captured? That should not be captured? But then in the next breath, his words stop and the camera focuses on the ball. Parker smiles, realizing that his relationship with Hachi is one such fleeting moment that can only be tasted through experience. In an instant, he slams to the floor, dead from a massive heart attack. Gere does a superb job in this scene, proving that his reputation as a great actor is severely underrated.

     That afternoon, Hachi waits for Parker at the train station in his regular spot. By now, the townsfolk know him well and treat him as a favored citizen. He waits and waits until the wee hours of the night, but of course, Parker never appears. Soon, Parker’s son-in-law arrives and takes him home. Hachi senses a sadness has fallen on the family which cannot be explained. Time passes and Cate sells the house, sending Hachi to live with Parker’s daughter, son-in-law and new baby, Ronnie. But at the first opportunity, Hachi escapes, follows the train tracks to the old house where a new family is living, and then finds his way to the station where he waits at his regular spot for Parker to arrive. The weeks become months, the months become years, and still Hachi waits. The media picks up on the story and fans send letters and money.

     For the next ten years, Hachi returns to the station at the end of each day and waits, undaunted by weather, changes in the seasons, and the general passage of time. Finally, Cate returns to town and witnesses Hachi holding fast to his vigil. She professes her love and gratitude, whispering soft words in his fur as the tears fall. Any viewer who has the slightest semblance of love for dogs in their bones will be weeping a mass of tears along with her. But the most heart-wrenching moment is to come. On a cold, winter night, as the old Hachi waits, Parker steps out of the station doors, calling the dog’s name. In the spirit realm, we see Hachi’s point of view, of master and canine reunited in death, reminiscing their joyous times together. It may sound sappy and slightly melodramatic, but it is highly emotional and wonderfully done.

     The movie ends on an upbeat, with Cate telling a ten-year-old Ronnie about how Hachi found his grandpa and not the other way around. Ronnie delivers a speech to his class, retelling Hachito’s story as the epitome of the loyal and vigilant hero. When he steps off the school bus to walk home, an adorable Akita puppy is waiting for him, eager to play and explore nature while wandering down the train tracks that run behind their neighborhood. The viewer’s heart swells at hearing Ronnie call the pup “Hachi.” Life has come full circle; it is another fleeting moment that cannot be captured other than through experience.

     It is interesting to note that the real Hachikō was born in Ōdate, Japan in 1923, and is considered a national iconic hero. After the death of his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, in 1925, Hachikō returned to the Shibuya train station in Tokyo the next day and every day after that for nine years until his death in March, 1934. His statue sits in front of the Shibuya train station, at the same place where he waited all those years, as a memorial of exceptional loyalty. 

Homemade Cheddar Bread

I've posted this recipe before, but thought I would share it again. Look how beautiful this is, and it is so delicious! And easy! Another Friday favorite!

3 c flour

1 3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp yeast

Dash of chili powder

Dash of ground thyme

Mix all together in a bowl and add 1 1/2 c of water to make a blob of dough. I use a mixing spatula for this. Add cheddar cheese. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and let it sit overnight on the kitchen counter. At least 24 hours. Take note that the dough will rise quite a bit. Then bake.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Place a covered iron casserole dish in the oven and heat the empty dish with the cover for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, flour your counter or kneading board and dump the dough into the flour, rolling it around a bit until the stickiness dissipates. Cover dough with the cling wrap and wait for casserole to heat.

Place dough in hot casserole, cover and bake for 30 min. Uncover and bake another 15 min. Thats it! Yummy!

Back to the UK

Had a great time with Braxton over the holidays. Now he's headed back to the UK via Toronto. Delayed flights will put him in a hotel for tonight and then off to London tomorrow morning. He's an independent young man, now! Very proud of him!

Chicken Filo Pastries

These are a delicious variation on my shrimp filo pastries. Using a combination of chicken, olive oil, white wine, garlic, butter, dill weed, cream cheese and a little whipping cream, they are to die for! Drizzle with the leftover pan sauce and serve with rice and a salad. Another hit with the entire family!