World War II American Army medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first conscientious objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey
Rated R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence including grisly bloody images
It’s been a full decade since Mel Gibson directed his last film, “Apocalypto,” which portrayed the declining state of the Mayan kingdom and one man’s attempt to survive after being captured for one of their sacrifices. Gibson has starred in a plethora of notable films, including “Mad Max,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Patriot,” “We Were Soldiers” and “Signs.” But in 1993, Gibson decided to direct his own film, and he launched his directorial career with “The Man Without a Face.” He continued to direct and – in 1995 – Gibson’s “Braveheart” won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year. In 2004, Gibson directed one of the most controversial films of all time, “The Passion of the Christ,” which detailed the final hours of the life of Jesus Christ. Following “Apocalypto,” Gibson stepped into the dark, and practically disappeared from public view. He then made a comeback of sorts by starring in the 2010 film “Edge of Darkness” after his four-year absence, following that up with several roles over the years. Gibson has played it relatively safe these past few years, but he’s entering the directing scene again with “Hacksaw Ridge,” arguably his finest directorial work.
As a young boy, Desmond T. Doss grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, alongside his brother. Both were subject to abuse from their alcoholic father, a man scarred by his experiences from World War I. Desmond’s mother is also subject to his drunken outbursts, and this deeply upsets him. After his brother enlists in the military during World War II, Desmond feels obliged to follow in his footsteps and serve his country. Much to his father’s dismay and – amid a romance he has formed with a nurse from the nearby hospital – he leaves for basic training. Desmond, who is deeply religious, refuses to even touch a weapon during his training, which infuriates his superiors, wishing only to serve as a medic on the battlefield. This sets into motion proceedings for a court-martial that will shake his faith to its very core.
“Hacksaw Ridge” feels very conventional at times. The film doesn’t pull any punches, and the story is very straightforward. Surprisingly enough, director Mel Gibson balances sentimentality and sincere human emotion into a seamless whole, never allowing melodrama to take center stage. Instead, he allows it to linger in the background, which allows things to come off as more natural and less forced. Dobson, played exceptionally well by Andrew Garfield, faces the charges against him with courage and conviction. Garfield’s performance is full of emotion, and it could have easily been overplayed by anyone else. But Garfield knows what he’s doing and this is evident. We feel what he feels, and there’s almost nothing to dislike about Dobson as a person. Garfield plays Dobson in such a way that it’s incredibly easy to root for him. However sympathetic the audience may feel towards Dobson and his personal trials, “Hacksaw Ridge” is still a complex film that tackles some difficult subject matter. After all, the film is largely a story of faith and, at times, that of personal conflict.
“Hacksaw Ridge” takes its time. Character development is key here. The film’s message is powerful, and this is accomplished by allowing the audience to see the characters interact with one another in confrontational situations, and how they treat Desmond as a conscientious objector is the most important aspect of this. The motivations of each character are quite clear, so “Hacksaw Ridge” isn’t very engaging when it comes to what the characters necessarily think of Desmond, but rather how they respond to their own initial judgment of him, and whether their opinion changes throughout the rest of the film.
The most extraordinary aspect of “Hacksaw Ridge” is that the film is a true story. There are several events in the film that will simply take your breath away. What Desmond can do as a human being, against all odds, is fascinating. His moral character is outstanding and he refuses to back down from what he believes in, even when the entire world seems to be pitted against him. Mel Gibson understands the importance of Dobson’s story, and never allows the film to come off as a black-and-white portrayal of right and wrong, but instead presents a simple, albeit conventional, story that focuses more on what Dobson believes in personally.
“Hacksaw Ridge” is not for the faint of heart. The films that Mel Gibson has directed are, for whatever reason, incredibly violent. Anyone who has seen “The Passion of the Christ” will tell you that it’s an excruciating experience, even for those not emotionally attached to the subject matter. It’s a brutal watch, as Jesus Christ is tortured, humiliated and crucified in graphic detail. “Apocalypto” is also extremely violent. Characters are decapitated, people are vividly beaten to death, and gore is a common visual. “Hacksaw Ridge” is no different. It’s a war film, and in apparently typical Mel Gibson fashion, there’s lots of gruesome imagery. But it’s important to note that this is necessary to accurately describe what the soldiers of World War II must have been going through mentally and what they did go through physically.
“Hacksaw Ridge” is exceptional. It’s easily Mel Gibson’s best directorial effort, and tops the Oscar-winning “Braveheart” by a mile, though it’s unlikely to win the award for Best Motion Picture of the Year from the Academy. Hopefully, it will be nominated in that category, and Gibson for Best Achievement in Directing. There’s little to dislike about this film. It’s a moving tribute to the real-life Dobson, and to those who risked their lives to defend our freedoms. Garfield’s performance is Oscar-worthy, though its presence in a year full of incredible performances is bad news for this film regarding awards season. “Hacksaw Ridge” is powerful, its message timeless. Gibson’s film delivers on so many levels, and anyone who wants to experience a heart-wrenching, thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking film should not miss out on this.