Tries Too Hard

Rating: 4/10 (7 January 2017)

Well it just had to happen . A couple of days after reviewing FENCES a film that just screams "Oh look at me please get that armful of Oscars ready" . I self righteously claimed that I leave my politics and religion at the door of the cinema when I watch a movie . You can guarantee very soon a film will come along making a reviewer eat their words . HACKSAW RIDGE is that movie and from the outset it went out of its way to contradict anything I might have written recently
I find it impossible to separate Mel Gibson the film maker from Mel Gibson the human being . If nothing else movies directed by Gibson have their own unique voice but it's what the voice is saying that rattles my cage . From the outset Gibson nails his world view to the mast and this cinematic ship sinks under the weight of the message . You have a film opening with graphic images of war along with a voice-over about the strength of God . Do I have to point out here's an ugly irony watching this in the post 9/11 world ? But hey Gibson doesn't do irony
There is an interesting true life story at the centre of the film featuring Desmond T Doss , a pacifist who joined the US army despite being opposed to violence . Now unlike Doss I have never served on a frontline - but then neither has Gibson - so I'm not going to criticise someone who risked their life every moment of everyday in a war zone . He's a decorated hero . End of discussion . The problem is the story should have been told much better . The obstacles faced by Doss religious belief is constantly over done amongst the constant clichés . Stuff like this totally undermines the character study of a man doing things he doesn't agree with but nevertheless contributed to the greater good . Instead while watching HACKSAW RIDGE I was continually reminded that I was watching a predictable , old fashioned Oscar bait of a film which over eggs the pudding