On this day when we publicly honor those who lost their lives while in military service, I will review one of my new favorite films, Hacksaw Ridge (2016). This biographical World War II drama is equally a brutal epic with mind-blowing battle sequences and an intimate, inspiring tale of staying true to your convictions even when all is seemingly against you. My take will be spoiler-free because I honestly believe that everyone, regardless of one's spiritual or political opinions, will benefit from experiencing this thought-provoking true story.
Hacksaw Ridge follows the life of Private Desmond Doss. As every young American man around him is volunteering to fight and save the world from the Axis Powers, Desmond seeks to step up and do his duty as well. There is just one minor hurdle though, Desmond is a conscientious objector who refuses to even touch a gun, let alone take another human being’s life. Due to both genuine religious beliefs and past family issues, violence is not something Desmond feels like he can carry out. Unsurprisingly, this puts our protagonist at odds with almost everyone around him, including his loved ones and the U.S. Army.
Desmond, played brilliantly by Andrew Garfield with a very convincing Southern accent, wants to serve as a combat medic. He is no coward and is willing to charge into battle, administer first aid, carry fallen soldiers to safety and even sacrifice his own life. He just will not carry a gun or kill. His World War I veteran father does not feel like he can support his son’s actions. Desmond’s understanding yet rightfully worried fiance is afraid she will never see him again.
You know you are walking on thin ice when your own brothers-in-arms do not trust you to save them. What would you do if you felt called to action but were ordered by your superiors and begged by your own family to turn your back on your morals? Desmond finally steps into the theater of war after a series of physical tests, political trials, philosophical debates, and spiritual ruminations.
This film is masterfully crafted and powerfully executed by Mel Gibson. Gibson’s Academy Award nomination for Best Director is completely earned. Trust me when I say you have never seen anything like the hard-hitting battle scenes of Hacksaw Ridge. Much like the equally great Saving Private Ryan, this film completely immerses you with the deafening sounds and grim sights of blood, gore, smoke, gunfire, shrapnel, and death at every corner. Gibson shot this film so that you would truly feel how terrifying being in a battle is, especially one as deadly as the Battle of Okinawa was.
It was realistic, nerve-wracking and incredibly violent, but not in a way that glorifies war. It is the opposite actually and you will likely see why Desmond would not want to join in on the horror. On the other hand, the film stirs that primal and very human instinct one has to protect their fellow man. Everyone soon learned that having Desmond on that battlefield was nothing short of a miracle.
I will not ruin what happens but will instead let you see for yourself why a pacifist like Desmond Doss is now considered a legend and one of the bravest soldiers in all of history. Gibson even said in an interview that Desmond’s heroism had to be downplayed in the film because viewers might think that it was unbelievable. While the film certainly earns its "R" rating, do not be afraid of the violent content because it is necessary for the message to come across.
This just might be the best film Gibson has directed. Every single actor and actress is riveting in their given roles. Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Teresa Palmer, and Vince Vaughn all give the best performance of their respective career. The cinematography is expertly shot. The Oscar-winning editing and sound mixing are spot on. The costumes, production design, and makeup are all flawless. The screenplay deftly blends drama, humor, action and character development. Simply put, everyone involved is at the top of their game.
There are stressful times in my life where I feel like life is tough but humbling films like this quickly put me in my place. Thousands of young men, most of them even younger than I am, died so that civilization as we know it would live on for future generations. I am forever grateful for what they did and I wish to spread the story of Desmond Doss to as many people as I can.
I give Hacksaw Ridge an A+.
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