Review of Hacksaw Ridge (2016) by Pascale C — 15 Feb 2017

"Even the last man brings the looks of other films like" The Rescue of Private Ryan, "" Born to Kill, "and even" Apocalypse Now. " That's all great movies to inspire, but even so, Mel Gibson's new movie has its own personality, yes, it's gorgeous, touching, shocking, violent, dazzling and almost mystical, since Doss's story is almost mythological.

We have here a script that does not work with linearity, we start at the end, we see the beginning, the middle, the beginning and then it's only advancement, but these changes are so subtle that if you're not paying attention, You could develop a few more issues like your brother having gone to war and also your relationship which is very sudden but in the end you understand why you took the course you took and you end up accepting.

We have the story of Desmond T. Doss (Abdrew Garfield), a soldier who goes to war two without even carrying a gun, and ends up being the bravest man in his battalion working as a doctor in the trenches and being guided by his faith.

The film deals with religion in an excellent way, we are not forced to accept the faith of doss, it does not oblige anyone, and despite all the contrary comments and questioning their faith, it is there, and their courage does not come from holding a Gun, Doss proves that courage is in man's ideal, the horrors of war are also treated, Gibson has no shame in showing torn bodies, viscera and bloodbaths, this is a war, it is for you to be uncomfortable even, it is For you to repudiate it, and the film does not deal with the drama of war only in battle, we see the drama of Tom Doss - Desmond's Desire - who lost friends in the Great War, and now fears losing his children, we have some glimpses about domestic violence , But all with the look of flashbacks and very superficially.

The technical highlights do not stand for the picture or soundtrack, although both are good, there is nothing that stands out more than the sound mix of that movie that is spectacular, every shot passing from scratch you feel that passed in you, each loading of Gun, every musket stab, every man that falls to the ground, every blast or shot is extremely alive, you notice everyone, it is not something common like most war movies.

Andrew Garfield has a spectacular performance, he is completely perfect, when he cries, you cry, when he laughs, you laugh, when he gets excited, you are already completely thrilled next to him, worth a line too for Hugo Weaving, who I found it spectacular as a supporting actor playing Desmond's father, although he had little screen time.

Mel Gibson can not go on for ten years without producing anything, none of his films are a great work of art, but all are great. "Up to the Last Man" is not perfect, has a lot of idea repetition, and some technical features that do not touch the viewer as it should.

-Dr. Andrew's performance buries these problems-, some script points not developed as I explained earlier, but We are treated to great battle scenes, good performances, and a story that touched even the most carambudo viewer, and it was Gibson's great sensitivity to finish the movie the way it ended.