The Mel Gibson Comeback Movie: Brutal, Hopeful And A Bit Weak

Rating: 7/10 (12 January 2017)

Hacksaw Ridge is the violent, inspiring and audacious comeback film that Mel Gibson has needed for over a decade, and the end results have certainly paid off for him. Scoring many award wins and nominations, as well as critical acclaim, Gibson is back in the good graces of Hollywood after many personal controversies. And with this film, it is clear why: it's a biopic on someone who hasn't received the recognition deserved, features explosive war scenes, and has a great cast, but it is quite far from perfect.
Gibson's overall direction is mixed. The action scenes are where he shines brightest here, as the length and brutality of them harken back to a time where Gibson was one of Hollywoods best and most transgressive directors. However, the entire first half of the film is very much average, where the characters are being introduced and developed. The film occasionally delved into schmaltz, which ruined the flow of the film.
The writing of Hacksaw Ridge is also very average. The dialogue throughout the first half is nothing special, and the plot feels disorderly. The big climatic final is awkwardly written and directed, as if it could be removed from the film and have no real difference. Andrew Garfield gave a good performance, but his character, although based on a brave and truly awe-inspiring person, sometimes seemed like a punchline rather the heart and soul of the vicious film he was in.
The acting as a whole, like much else of the film, went for average or passable rather then go for great. The cast was splendid, and appeared to be having fun, but the acting wasn't great from any single person. The editing was poor in many of the earlier scenes, and the sound mix was murky at times, making it hard to hear dialogue.
But there was a lot to love about Hacksaw Ridge. Again, most of the second half (sans the final ten minutes) was amazing, with the war scenes continuously shocking and petrifying audiences for its long durations. Andrew Garfield always portrayed real life hero Desmond Doss' religion and beliefs with respect, even if sometimes it felt directed differently. And for all of its faults, it was a darn entertaining movie with enough humour spread throughout to not let the audience fall into a deep pessimistic pit of despair once leaving the theater.
If nothing more, Mel Gibson is back, and perhaps he will now get a bigger budget next time to truly take us back to his Braveheart days. Hacksaw Ridge is a good film that does a great job of exploring how a real person's ethical and spiritual beliefs were tested by World War II, even if the film did feel average in its earlier scenes.
3.5 / 5