One of the Most Inspiring Movies of all Time

Rating: 9/10 (19 November 2016)

Mel Gibson (Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ) marks his ten year absence from cinema with this extraordinary fact-based war film Hacksaw Ridge. The film is a welcome return to form for Mel Gibson whose directorial efforts have been non-existent as of late largely due to controversy. Gibson expertly crafts some of the most immersive, visceral, and gut-wrenchingly intense war scenes since Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, while also telling the incredibly inspiring story of one man's challenge to stay true to his convictions while becoming an unlikely hero in the process.
The first half of the film chronicles the struggles, tribulations, and trials of a real-life pacifist named Desmond T. Doss (played by Andrew Garfield). Doss joins the army to aid in the war effort after the massacre at Pearl Harbor. Though Doss condemns violence, will not touch a gun, and tries to become a medic as opposed to fighting. He endures vicious beatings from his comrades, animosity from his commanding officers, and unjust charges brought against him for not going along with basic rifle training and the violence that will inevitably follow. He later becomes court-martialed for his alleged defiance of a commanding officer and then thrown in prison. After his trial, the army finally gives into his wishes and sends him into battle without the need to bear arms.
Doss's whole struggle is the epitome of conviction as he stands up for what he believes in no matter the cost. Doss's conflict was very well portrayed, offered some compelling drama and the fact that this all actually happened made it even more credible. Though the first half of the film had some minor hiccups with the cliché love story, the questionable military ethics displayed by the commanding officers (such as soliciting Doss to quit the army with a draft in effect) and finally by some campy dialogue which throughout its length does not feature one single f-word given the grittiness and cruelty known to be present in army boot camps and on the battlefields.
Following Doss's struggle at home, the story quickly jumps into the battle of Okinawa. The war scenes are absolutely relentless in its depiction of warfare. It offers some incredible intensity and masterfully choreographed battle scenes. Mel Gibson thrusts the viewer right into the action just as effectively as Steven Spielberg did with Saving Private Ryan. The viewer feels the shock of every explosion, every bullet zipping past the soldiers' heads, and every man bellowing in pain. It is simply beautiful chaos.
Though what helps evoke humanity in the awful savagery depicted in the war scenes is Private Doss. Private Doss risks his own life multiple times to save the lives of others. When everyone else retreated, he stayed behind to save many people including some of the enemy soldiers all without firing a single shot. Doss reflects a Christ-like figure by the light shining on his back, by helping a blind man see, and also by washing off all the blood and dirt on him metaphorical to the Baptism of Jesus. Just like Jesus, Doss saved many people and also stood for what was right even if it lead to incarceration or death. Gibson told Doss's story with accuracy, grace, grit, and tremendous technical skill all without being excessively sentimental, preachy with Christianity, or overly glamorous with the war scenes.
Private Doss was portrayed fantastically by Andrew Garfield whose work may warrant an Oscar nomination. The casting was surprisingly great as it featured many actors normally typecast for roles almost the opposite they played in this film for example: Vince Vaughn as an intimidating yet wise-cracking drill sergeant, Hugo Weaving as an abusive yet regretful father, and Andrew Garfield himself from a comic book hero to a real life one. Everyone in the film did a great job at personifying their characters and breaking down their own previous stereotypes.
Hacksaw Ridge is the most harrowing, terrifying and visceral war film since Saving Private Ryan, while being the most triumphant, inspirational and feel-good movie since Rocky or even Rudy. Mel Gibson has marked a comeback with this film and hopefully he keeps making pictures as urgent as this. The film definitely deserves Oscar attention come award season.