Angelina Jolie ‘Unbroken’ Book: Will Jolie’s Poignant Biopic Be A Serious Oscar Nominee?

By Staff Reporter | Nov 17, 2014 06:57 PM EST

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"Unbroken" is an upcoming war-drama movie produced and directed by Angelina Jolie. The film is a movie adaptation of the 2010 nonfiction book, "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand. Before its world premiere, Jolie's "Unbroken" took Hollywood by storm as a serious Oscar nominee.

Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" is based on a book about the life of Olympic athlete Louis "Louie" Zamperini. The film depicts a tale of a World War II hero Zamperini, a former Olympic star, who survived a plane crash in the Pacific in 1943. The character spends 47 days drifting on a raft and spent more than two years living in several Japanese prisoner of war camps.

Angelina Jolie was hidden in an island in Sydney Harbor while directing "Unbroken," based on Hillenbrand's bestselling biography book of Louis Zamperini, a "scrappy" Italian-American youngster turned Olympic runner. According to Vanity Fair, Zamperini also became a World War II airman turned hero. In the movie adaptation, Zamperini is played by British actor Jack O'Connell.

Before its much-anticipated world premiere, Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken" was being talked about in Hollywood as a serious Oscar nominee. Sydney Morning Herald said the $65 million World War II epic tale, based on the book about the life of Olympian Zamperini, was being hailed as the "best advertisement in years for the virtues" of Australia.

The world premiere of "Unbroken," based on the book written by Laura Hillenbrand, was attended by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They made their official red carpet debut as a newlywed couple on Monday at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia. According to E! News, the couple spent 30 minutes outside the theatre, taking selfies with fans and posing for photographers.

Meanwhile, at the Hollywood Film Awards on Friday, Jolie explained why she cast 24-year-old O'Connell as Zamperini.

"All of the actors were so brave and many of the auditions were emotional and heartbreaking, and then came Jack," Jolie said. "He looked around the darkness, he felt the isolation, and he looked so young and vulnerable, and when he was hit, he took the beating, he ended up shaking from the feelings and he allowed his emotions to come forward."

"The second time he begged the guard to stop with tears in his eyes. And the third time, something happened," the director continued. "His eyes changed and he went against the script. And when the guard came in, he fought back. He just couldn't stay down."

"I showed that audition tape to Louis, and he smiled," Jolie added. "As a director, to have Jack in front of your lens is a gift. He draws you in, he makes every moment honest. In his work, he gives all that he has."

However, on July 2, Louis Zamperini died at the age of 97 after a 40-day fight with pneumonia.

Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken," is an inspirational drama that was adapted from Hillenbrand's bestselling book of the same title, will be released in the US on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

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