Well worth watching

Rating: 9/10 (11 November 2016)

Didn't go in with high expectations as I am not a fan of war movies. I went because my husband wished to see it. I had heard it was bloody which was true in part. The battle scenes are confronting but I suspect quite realistic. How any soldier retained sanity after WW11 is a mystery. This movie engaged me from the beginning. Andrew Garfield played the role perfectly capturing a sense of strength, confusion and dignity mixed up with boyish charm. He was a fully rounded real person that perhaps confounds one but the strength of his conviction is compelling. This is a true story of a real hero. I was left in awe of his humbleness yet greatness. This is the sort of person we should hold up to our kids to emulate, rather than a Kardashian and their ilk. It was great to see so many Australian actors in the various cameo and supporting roles. All did a stellar job except perhaps Sam Worthington's American accent which kept slipping. Vincent Vaughan has such presence. I enjoyed his performance greatly. Kudos to Mel Gibson in bringing us yet another morality tale of such quality. Another man struggling to retain his convictions against a punishing establishment . Finely crafted. Well worth watching.