Hackneyed Ridge

Rating: 8/10 (7 February 2017)

(RATING: ☆☆☆☆ out of 5)
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: A well made and effective war film that ultimately loses The Battle of Clichés.
GRADE: B
SYNOPSIS: Biography about war hero and pacifist Desmond T. Doss.
JIM'S REVIEW: The bullets whiz by at an alarmingly rate, and so do the clichés in Mel Gibson's war epic, Hacksaw Ridge. Based on a true story about Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector who fought valiantly in WWII, saved 75 lives, and never carried or fired a rifle. Granted, this is a remarkable tale of valor and courage, but, as written by in his screenplay, rarely registers as a real human being, more like a saintly hero with lots of aura to spare. This Seventh-Day Adventist warrior emanates a distinctive glow throughout the film that distanced this moviegoer to feel any emotional connection.
Corporal Doss (Andrew Garfield) was a PATRIOTIC SOLDIER who enlisted in the Army to do his bit for America and fight against THE EVIL Japanese. Of course he runs into some complications due to his religious stance. He runs smack into a TOUGH SERGEANT (Vince Vaughn) and a BULLYING BUNKMATE (Luke Bracey) before hitting the front line. His LOYAL AND LOVING GIRLFRIEND (Teresa Palmer) waits at home while he fights a good fight to stay true to his religious convictions and risk his life numerous times to help others and earning the Purple Heart. The body count rises, along with the clichéd and contrived situations. The set-up is Americana hokum, although based on facts. The screenplay by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan tells their tale with passion and verve, but the dialog lacks any degree of realism or subtlety. It's a standard WWII biography about a superhero done very well.
Mel Gibson directs his film with hundreds of gory close-ups of bodily carnage. His obsession with grisly images never abates, but he does create a powerful war movie. The film is directed with a sure hand, although Mr. Gibson overdoes the religious symbolism with making Desmond such a pious Christ figure to the point of redundancy. The war action sequences are skillfully staged to maximum effect and achieve the right shock value results. Bodies (and body parts) shoot into the air with precision, blood spatters, heads are riddled with bullets as explosions and fire accentuate this balletic dance of death. Other calmer scenes of Desmond's usual earlier years carry with them a nostalgic 1940's glow that contrasts with his dysfunctional family upbringing, also tinged with violence episodes.
As our heroic pacifist, Mr. Garfield downplays the country bumpkin elements of his character and makes Desmond more convincing and multi-layered. He gives a totally assured performance and his emotional conflicts resonate with the audience quite effortlessly due to the actor's likable factor. Strong support is also provided by Mr. Vaughn, who avoids his stock character's trademark gruffness with much agility, Sam Worthington as his captain, and Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths as his quarrelsome parents. As his love interest, Ms. Palmer makes Dorothy's kindly stereotype of the girl back home more interesting than her role suggests.
Hacksaw Ridge, though well-crafted, is all stereotypes thrown together to tell its war-is-hell theme. Relentless in its violence, and redeemed by Mr. Garfield's earnest performance and strong technical qualities, with fine editing by John Gilbert, impressive photography by Simon Duggan, and rousing sound design. The film is equal parts completely contrived and highly effective. Call it Hackeyed Ridge.