Faith in Battlefield

Rating: 7/10 (27 November 2016)

Gibson's work is a biographical war film about Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, who "fought without a rifle" during the battle of Okinawa in WW2. Desmond Doss enlisted in the U.S. army voluntarily as a combat medic refusing then to carry a rifle or even touch it only to save 75 injured soldiers and clear them from the battlefield on his own. Doss won the highest medals in his country to become the first and only conscientious objector to receive the medal of honor in WW2.
Desmond, who died in 2006, turned down many offers for books and films because he was scared that they'd portray his life inaccurately. Gibson's film on the contrary, depicts Doss's life rather accurately except for certain events such as him taking the gun out of his father's hands, the details of his first marriage, and bringing him his bible out of the battlefield directly after he was wounded. A veteran of WW2 also stated that the term "Hacksaw Ridge" was not used back then but rather "the escarpment". Otherwise, the life story of Desmond down to the slightest details was depicted accurately. The same veteran even mentioned that they teased Doss a lot asking him all the time, "What are you gonna do, Doss, if a Japanese comes around the corner and he's got a gun?".
The film starts with scenes from Desmond's childhood were he used to be violent.. then it moves to his romantic life with a bit of comic atmosphere around it.. then the dramatic struggle of Desmond with his comrades and commanders for what he believes in. This is for the first part of the movie.. the action starts with the second part when Desmond goes to Okinawa.. and while the movie starts to become more and more violent the spiritual atmosphere all around it gets stronger (implying that Desmond's faith became stronger after witnessing the battle unlike what happens in many other cases). It is important to note that Desmond in fact was religious and one of his comrades said that he maintained his strong faith even during the battle. Gibson showed in one scene a courageous soldier afraid of death after he was fatally wounded implying also that faith at such moments is vital. The humanity of Doss towards his comrades as well as his enemy was touching (the film showed him rescuing 2 or 3 Japanese soldiers).
The symbols were nicely included yet I would say that it was not sentimental enough for its spiritual mood.. maybe it is about the characters' depth (I was not able to get emotionally involved as I did in "Braveheart") or the sequence of events where I found a gap between the two parts of the film.. Or maybe the incidents shot were more of an action for the second part and comic in the first part and that didn't help in maintaining a general mood of sentimentality.
The war scenes nevertheless are thrilling and turn sometimes to more of a horror genre.. and Gibson did pick up the horrors of war, yet, it did not seem as natural as it was with his "Apocalypto".
The score was appealing but I would not say the same about acting. I'd say Hugo Weaving was the best while I wish Andrew Garfield was a bit better. Vince Vaughn, an actor that I admire, was as always really funny where he should but I cannot say that his role as sergeant Howell really suits him.
All in all, Gibson directed a good movie about an interesting character that defended his beliefs in and outside the battlefield.. he stood for what he believed in, did not surrender, and the hardship he went through only made him stronger, more faithful, and more of a human.