Review of Hacksaw Ridge (2016) by Lone_Wolf_Sones — 13 Mar 2017

Hacksaw Ridge marks the return of Mel Gibson to directing after a long hiatus. The movie tells the true story of Pvt. Desmond Doss who was the first conscientious objector to receive a congressional medal of honor.

The story itself is fascinating and Gibson does a good job of establishing the characters first. We learn early on what Desmond's motivations and beliefs are and how he carries those beliefs through the duration of the film. It's great that this characterization is handled by Andrew Garfield who is so damned likable in this movie that it's easy to become invested in this incredible story. The cast is also supported by other notable actors like Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn. I was initially concerned that Vince Vaughn may be an odd fit, however he was a pleasant surprise and sold me on his portrayal of a drill sergeant. These underpinnings and character building make the payoff at the end all the more worthwhile. Desmond's beliefs are tested numerous times especially during basic training. Nothing tries those convictions more however than the carnage of battle. The film doesn't flinch when it comes to depicting the carnage of the battle of Okinawa. The violence and brutality of the pacific theater is shown with disturbing detail. All the gore and carnage highlight Desmond choice to go into battle without a gun. It creates a riveting contrast and in my opinion one of the best films of 2016.