Epic. Beautiful. Horrific. Moving. Masterful.

Rating: 10/10 (29 July 2018)

I watched this movie with literally no idea what it was about, who was in it, or who directed it. I just read the first few lines of a couple of Netflix reviews, not enough for spoilers, but enough to get the impression that this might be a pretty special movie.
It was.
I was captivated from beginning to end. I don't think I even blinked. This is truly an extraordinary piece of filmmaking, with every aspect of its technical production a work of art, and every performance solid, nuanced, and truthful.
Some way into the bucolic, beautifully evocative first half, I began to notice that several of the actors were Australian, and wondered briefly if it might be an Aussie director at the helm. But then I was swept away again, and didn't think about anything else until midway through the second half, during one of the many prolonged (and exquisitely realised) battle scenes, when the thought popped in to my head that this was perhaps the best sound design I'd ever heard in a movie. And then I was swept away again.
I had no idea that it was directed by Mel Gibson until the end credits. And to be honest, I'd almost forgotten that he even existed. I had long been a fan of his work, and was particularly enamoured of Braveheart, which I considered one of the greatest historical epics I'd ever seen.
But after his much publicised bad behaviour, including drunk-driving (which I find inexcusable) and rampant anti-Semitism (which I find intolerable), plus his apparent decision to focus on pushing an aggressively right-wing Christian agenda on and off the screen, I decided to unofficially boycott all things Gibson-related - a decision echoed by Hollywood, where he was blacklisted for the best part of 10 years. And I promptly forgot all about him.
So when I reached the end credits of my new favourite movie and discovered that Gibson was, once again, the master director responsible for my awe and elation, I had somewhat mixed feelings.
Gibson is, inarguably and undoubtedly, one of the best directors in the business, and he's a pretty fine actor too. I just wish it was easier to like and admire him as a person. I know that much of my opinion is based on media reports and tabloid brainwashing, and God knows I despise all of those people far more than I dislike Mr Gibson. But he has admitted to saying the things he said, and doing the things he did. However, I note (upon researching his Wikipedia entry) that he has also done a lot of philanthropic stuff too, so I guess he's trying to balance things out. I think I'll follow Hollywood's lead and give him a second chance. He's certainly talented enough to deserve that much.
And Hacksaw Ridge is really a masterpiece of filmmaking.