Awe-inspiring story, gruesome realism of war imagery

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2017)

This film doesn't delay in informing us that this is a true story. In fact, they remind you in the opening titles.
Mel Gibson returns to the director's chair and gives us this fascinating tale of Desmond Doss, the only conscientious objector to receive a Medal of Honor in WWII.
Andrew Garfield portrays the pacifist Doss, among an ensemble of actors playing army soldiers. The film goes to great lengths to show just how much the prejudice the army has against Doss affects him, and it's done very well.
In terms of the war imagery, it is incredibly graphic and bloody, which works in the favour of showing this powerful war story.
Garfield performs very well along with the supporting cast (Hugo Weaving is fantastic as Doss' father.) Overall, the cinematography and performances are done very well, with maybe some of the Australian actors' accents wavering from time to time. (*cough cough, Sam Worthington*)