Hacksaw Ridge

I've said it before and I'll say it again, truth can certainly be stranger than fiction. Of all the films based on a real person, the one that stands above the rest has got to that of Desmond Doss in the new film, "Hacksaw Ridge". I've seen incredible characters based on actual people and stories, but none that were as amazing as this person. Why don't we hear about more people like this?

 

This, based on a true story, is a biopic about a World War II medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield). As a conscientious objector who refused to take a life or even carry a weapon--for religious beliefs, Doss was eventually awarded the Metal of Honor for saving the lives of 75 soldiers on the battlefield of Hacksaw Ridge, Okinawa.

His steadfast beliefs came at an early age when he almost  accidentally killed his brother, and his father Tom (Hugo Weaving) being an alcoholic--after his war days, became abusive toward his wife, Bertha (Rachel Griffiths), and after witnessing this Desmond almost shot him, but decided not to. All this impressed his hatred of not wanting to harm anyone. So with this and his incredible devotion to God, he just couldn't carry a rifle in combat, even though he knew he needed to help the war cause, which is why he went the medic role. So when he entered the Army, both his Sergeant, Sgt. Howell (Vince Vaughn) and Captain, Capt. Jack Glover (Sam Worthington) were at their wits end trying to convince this guy that war demanded killing. So what is a conscience ridden soldier to do in a wartime situation?

 

Others to round out the cast are Luke Bracey as Smitty, Teresa Palmer as Dorothy Schutte, Desmond's girlfriend, Matt Nable as Lt. Cooney, Nathaniel Buzolic as Harold Doss, Desmond's brother, Richard Roxburgh as Colonel Stelzer, Richard Pyros as Teach, Jacob Warner as James Pinnick, Milo Gibson as Lucky Ford and Darcy Bryce as Young Desmond.

 

This was brilliantly directed by Mel Gibson ("The Man Without a Face" '93, "Braveheart" '95, "The Passion of the Christ" '04, "Apocalypto" '06) plus TV. The way this filmmaker is able to encourage his actors to emit the correct emotion, especially the subtle ones, is short of perfection. He doesn't have a huge array of films to his credit, however the ones he has done are amazing productions on many levels. Like Steven Spielberg, Gibson's eye for detail has become something he's known for and this production shows that in spades. It was written with amazing continuity and cohesiveness by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. Even though these writers have limited feature film experience--Knight has a bit more than Schenkkan, this screenplay was amazingly well thought out and delineated with compassion, passion and fearlessness. These two writers will undoubtedly receive more work as they should. The realism of this film is stunning as is the photography--what one would expect from a Gibson production. There is so much the audience can and will take away after viewing this: an appreciation of fine filmmaking along with a moral dilemma. The dilemma? Given the same situation, would you stick to your guns (pardon the pun) and not carry a weapon assuming having the same belief convictions, or would you decide the opposite and let the chips fall where they may? Given that I am a Christian myself, I would like to think I would follow in Desmond's footsteps, but I suspect it would be difficult to say for sure until one would end up in a similar situation. What is amazing is every time Desmond would save a soldier, he would ask the Lord to let him save another one. His faith is what impressed me. Food for thought.

 

Whether one has religious convictions or not, the compassion and awe of this individual is something to behold. And if that doesn't get to you, the incredible craft of this film is something to sit back and revel in. Either way, enjoy this gem. Do I hear Academy Award nods calling?

 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                 Rated: R                                 139mins.