Hacksaw Ridge

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2017)

From Oscar and Golden Globe nominated director Mel Gibson (Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto), this film served as his big chance to return to form, he has had it hard the last few years since his drunken outbursts and conflicts. Based on the true story, young Desmond Doss (Darcy Bryce) was traumatised and his religious beliefs reinforced after he almost killed his brother Harold "Hal" (Roman Guerriero) during an argument, hitting him on the head with a brick. Years later, Desmond Doss (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Andrew Garfield) saves a man injured by a car, taking the man to hospital he is instantly smitten with nurse Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer), they soon start dating and fall in love. The majority of his town, including his brother Harold "Hal" (Nathaniel Buzolic), are enlisting in the army to fight in World War II, having learned about medicine from Dorothy's work, Doss is motivated to sign up. Doss's father Tom (Hugo Weaving), a troubled veteran of the First World War, is upset at the thought of losing his sons, having lost his childhood friends, with his beliefs as a conscientious objector, Desmond intends to serve as a combat medic, before he leaves Dorothy accepts Desmond's proposal of marriage. At Fort Jackson, under the command of Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn), Doss excels physically, but is immediately an outcast from his fellow soldiers, refusing to handle his rifle and train on Saturdays, due to his beliefs. Howell and Captain Glover (Sam Worthington) cannot get Doss discharged for psychiatric reasons, Doss is put through gruelling labour by Howell, his fellow soldiers turn against him, mistaking his beliefs for cowardice, they try to get Doss to leave of his own accord, and despite a beating one night, Doss wants to continue training. The squad complete basic training and are released on leave, Doss intends to marry Dorothy, but he is arrested for insubordination, Dorothy visits him in jail and tries to convince him to plead guilty to be released without charges, but Doss does not want to compromise his beliefs. In the trial, Doss pleads not guilty, before he is sentenced his father barges into the courtroom with a letter from a Brigardier General stating that his son's refusal to carry a firearm is protected by an Act of Congress, the charges are dropped and Doss marries Dorothy. Doss and his unit are assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, to participate in the Battle of Okinawa, they are reliving the 96th Infantry Division, tasked with climbing the cliff face of the Maeda Escarpment, nicknamed "Hacksaw Ridge", to battle the stationed Japanese forces, artillery bombardments from the U.S. Navy have had little success, U.S. forces have been pushed off the ridge repeatedly and suffered heavy casualties. In the initial fight both sides suffer heavy losses, Doss successfully saves several soldiers, including those with injuries that appear too severe to survive. The Americans shelter for the night, Doss spends the night in a foxhole with Smitty Ryker (Luke Bracey), the first of his squad to call him a coward, Doss reveals his aversion to holding a firearm is due to a night where he nearly shot his drunken father after he threatened his mother with a gun, Smitty and Doss make amends. Next morning, the Japanese drive the Americans off Hacksaw Ridge, launching a massive counterattack, Smitty is killed, while many Americans, including Howell and Doss' squad mates, are severely injured and have been behind on the battlefield, Doss hears the cries and decides to run back into the carnage to save them. Doss spends the entire day and night carrying and dragging wounded soldiers to the edge of the cliff and rappelling them down on rope, Doss prays each time to save one more, the rest of the unit below are shocked by the arrival of dozens of wounded soldiers presumed dead. Day breaks, Doss rescues Howell, they escape enemy fire and finally escape Hacksaw, Captain Glover tells Doss the man have been inspired by what they see as a miracle, and that they will not launch the next attack without him, despite it being Doss' Sabbath Day, he joins his fellow soldiers to care for the wounded, with extra reinforcements they begin to win the battle. Falsely surrendering Japanese soldiers create an ambush, Doss manages to save Glover and others, knocking grenades away with his bare hands, one of which wounds him, Doss is safely lowered down the cliff, clutching the Bible that Dorothy gave him. Desmond Doss saved the lives of 75 men, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman, the first time in history for a conscientious objector, Doss stayed married to Dorothy until her death in 1991, he died aged 87 on 23 March 2006. Also starring Rachel Griffiths as Bertha Doss, Richard Roxburgh as Colonel Stelzer and Luke Pegler as Milt "Hollywood" Zane. Garfield gives a splendid performance as the man who risked all to save many, Vaughn and Worthington do well also, it is an extraordinary story of bravery and courage, there are the odd sentimental bits, but it really grips you with its high amount of violence on the battlefield, it really proves that against catastrophic odds, doing the right thing is not impossible, a brilliant, must see biographical Second World War drama. It won the Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing, and it was nominated the Oscar for Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Sound Editing, it won the BAFTA for Best Editing and it was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Make Up/Hair and Best Sound, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!