Mudbound (2017)

Wow, what a heartbreaking movie. It's really well done. The time jumps in the story line are really cleverly executed. It's not always immediately obvious until it cuts back to where we had left off. The cinematography is stunning. Downtrodden rural Mississippi is pretty devastating for everyone, black and white, but you know the African Americans have it way worse. The juxtaposition of life in the Jim Crow South with war-torn Europe is night and day for the African American soldiers. This tale of coming home from war is poignant and devastating and exactly what we need. Discrimination in this country still remains abysmal. Dee Rees does an excellent job assisted by strong performances by Carey Mulligan, Jason Mitchell and Mary J. Blige. 

Unbroken (2014)

Louis Zamperini had quite an incredible life. There are three phases in the movie that represent very different parts of his life. And it doesn't even get into his PTSD after returning home. The first phase plays out like a typical sports movie. It follows a young boy who goes into sport as a means to keep himself out of trouble and he runs all the way to the Olympics. The second phase is a lot like All Is Lost with talking. And the third phase is pure war from inside a POW camp. I think the movie tried to squeeze in a little too much. I feel like I would've gotten the same story without the track story line.

Miyavi plays the Japanese corporal in charge of the POW camp. He is devilishly cruel and has a look that inspires fear. There is a scene in which he implores Zamperini  to "Look at me!" and I couldn't help but think of Captain Phillips. The aerial fighting scene in the beginning is well done and it provides a good introduction to the war half of the story.