Mel Gibson sticks to his guns

Rating: 7/10 (7 August 2017)

"A single man, driven by faith endures all possible torments without giving up hope." I think this works quite well for most of Mel Gibson's films from "Braveheart" (1995) to "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) and the brilliant "Apocalypto" (2006). "Hacksaw Ridge" is no exception telling the story of another man of faith and determination, a man who "sticked to his guns" however this idiom sounds particularly ironic in this case because the man in question, corporal and U.S army medic Desmond Doss achieved military glory while being a conscientious objector that refused to carry or even touch a gun or any other weapon.
"Hacksaw Ridge" is structured like many army and war films. The warm prewar life (here however haunted by a complex relationship with Mr.Doss Sr.) Second act is the obligatory Boot Camp scene with the always enjoyable routine barrack inspection and training chin deep in the mud. Third (and fourth) act is the lengthy battle chapter in which Gibson almost revels in a gory dance of torn limbs and fire and smoke pyrotechnics. What makes the difference is Doss, the atypical hero, lanky and a bit goofy, but whose courage is not simply innate but fuelled by his compassion his sense of duty and his unflattering faith. If you think about it this definition works for most of Mel Gibson's films.