Explosive heroism

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2017)

This review of Hacksaw Ridge is spoiler free
**** (4/5)
As an actor Mel Gibson has gained a fair few roles to get him slightly noticed since his alleged racist tirade seven years ago but they are nothing to praise it was very difficult for him to get his name on another Hollywood production since some studios wouldn't hire him. But since his stunning Best Picture winning debut Braveheart Gibson isn't stupid as he knows exactly what he is doing behind the camera, over the years his films have not just made him a director to watch he's become the director to cherish. Its been 11 years since his last shot behind the camera with 2006s Apocalypto, but it's fair to say that the Australian, earned that time off as his fourth film Hacksaw Ridge seems to be the thing that every Gibson fan was looking for. This fourth shot walks the tightrope without any sort of wobbling the film; it may even lead to Oscars.
We first meet the film's centre character Desmond Doss, as a young boy living a happy yet troubled life with his older brother, his mother and his abusive father (Hugo Weaving) who constantly teaches him the differences between rights and wrongs, it's later in this opening that we see what his father is doing to him. Then the film shifts 15 years to a more grown up Desmond, whose troubled young life seems to only be a memory that has left him, it's here that we see he first instance of his heroism when he saves a misfortunate soul. He meets with Dorothy Schutte who happens to be the best catch in town; they form a relationship together using his charm. Though Desmond gets the idea that he wants to join the war which is when the message comes clear that his father doesn't want him to end his life so soon as he tells him about his story of World War I of how he lost all his friends, when he finally says with tearful eyes "I lost all my friends, I don't want to lose my sons as well" but Desmond is determined that he will come back home unscathed.
He decides to go through as a combat medic; he refuses to hold a rifle as he is against violence but when it comes to heroism he shines. The second act when he starts his training it doesn't take itself too seriously as there is moment that is very funny as the drill Sergeant (Vince Vaughn) gives all his men new hilarious nicknames and gives us a few zingers, but it's not horrendously misplaced. Desmond spends most of his time as the army's punching bag he is constantly beaten up arrested for his beliefs yet his determination doesn't whither which is when we see his full strength. The opening of the second half is when Gibson's vision truly comes to life as we veer into the battlements of Okinawa, Japan (filmed in Australia) like his three previous films there was always a moment when the violence would keep its this film does essentially the same thing. Doss and his teammates are engulfed by a cascade of bullets, a huge body count, explosions and puddles of blood. He still shows determination as he has to save some of his comrades, it takes time to show this happening but it's still impacting nonetheless. Unfortunately the film does flag a little perhaps due to the times of territorial overkill when the fight becomes long, and at points never seems to halt.
But it's all essential stuff as this is a time when Hacksaw Ridge becomes a Gibson film when he gathers all his expertise into one scene. His transitions through the two different flanks are all wonderfully adept. When the battle finally halts there is a gorgeous shot of a slender Desmond running through the battlements to save some of his teammates, it turns into a stealth mission, but it's beautifully done. In addition, his superiors call him a hero. Granted the film flags and it seems this film Gibson not just the director to watch it makes him the director to cherish. Hacksaw Ridge is essentially this century's Saving Private Ryan.
VERDICT: Garfield and Palmer are phenomenal, in this sensational biopic that shows heroism and justice that's heavily impacting, truly moving with Oscar worthy performances and a lot of heart.