A big round of applause for Desmond Doss and Mel Gibson!

Rating: 10/10 (10 November 2016)

This is a remarkable film, that shoots right to the top of best war films in cinema history. The story of Desmond Doss is a compelling one which needed to be told cinematically, and Gibson was the right man for this. The first hour has many virtues, but also problems: Doss' mistreatment seems to lack (comparisons with Full Metal Jacket are inevitable) and the court martial hearing does not ring true. But once they move to Okinawa, what follows is a technical tour de force, with realistic, gruesome battle scenes, extremely well and clearly directed and photographed action, and with an impressive emotional and transcendental punch to boost, which will make you stand up and applaud at the end. I don't see Gibson glorifying war while condemning it, I see him as a true artist, with a view of the history of mankind as war and violence, presenting life in all its hellish reality, and a hero pursuing a higher aim amid the brutality and personal challenge. This film should gather Oscar nominations for best picture, direction, actor in a leading role, script, cinematography, production design and sound, at least. I am particularly happy for Gibson, who survived his own personal trial, and is now back, and in better form than ever.