Desmond Doss: American Hero

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2017)

Hacksaw Ridge is Mel Gibson's comeback film. After half of a decade of banishment from Hollywood following a string of leaked audio tapes revealing Gibson to use violent, racist and anti- semitic language, it appears that he has been absolved of his sins by the Hollywood elite, and has been given one more shot at success. He comes back to silver screen as a director, with a film many have placed into the category of conservative-freindy films. Films like American Sniper, 13 Hours and Patriots Day, that play extremely well with audiences across America and provide soaring box-office returns, but are scoffed at by films critics as being cliché, jingoist, patriarchal.. you name the buzz word. But perhaps Hacksaw Ridge finally bridges the gap between the film snobs, and the filmgoers. No, Hacksaw Ridge is not a movie only a Trump supporter would love. It tells a heartbreaking, inspiring story of courage, faith and unwavering love for humanity.
Desmond Doss is a man many Americans strive to be, and quite frankly, fail. He's a man of deep faith, who enlists in the army to fight the Japanese in WWII. He would be the ideal marine, except for one thing.. he refused to pick up a gun. Desmond is the ultimate pacifist. His religion teaches him never to kill, even on the battlefield. To the chagrin of his division, he is demoted as a combat medic.
The story unravels slowly, as we see Desmond in times before the war romancing a young southern belle played by the stunning Teresa Palmer. As well as his problems at home with his alcoholic, WWI vet father, provided by a tremendous performance by Hugo Weaving. Comedian Vince Vaughn appears as the drill sergeant, who brings his quick wit to this drama, and does a fabulous job. The sweet moments of the film's beginning seem sort of cheesy. But then, Desmond leaves for the war and with an anaconda grip, you are sucked into his hell on earth.
We are taken to Okinawa, and the carnage begins. Hacksaw Ridge is by far the most violent film of the year. It's a war film that is unafraid of showing all of the blood and guts. You'll be taken completely aback as it begins. Heads get split open, torsos get cut in half, legs are blown apart. The nastiest aspects on this horrible war are on full display, but perhaps more disturbing of all, is the shell shocked Desmond, who fights with all of his might to do his job, and save his fellow men. One by one, he fills them with morphine and takes them back to the base. "Lord, give me one more" he chants to himself. Desmond Doss is an unmistakable American hero. This is a moving picture. I hope that people can still be moved by a picture like this, but in this divisive climate, it is hard to say if that is even possible. As of this moment, we have never been farther apart, and we have never been more cynical as a country. But what we know far too well, is that we must honor the brave men that came before us that died protecting us. We enjoy our lives on the graves of men like Desmond Doss, who risked his life and his dignity saving us from the evils of fascism. His story is one that we desperately needed to hear from.