Review of Hacksaw Ridge (2016) by Richard S — 17 Sep 2017

I'm always sceptical when viewing films based upon true stories, especially those directed by Mel Gibson. I think he has directed some good movies but he tends to be a little liberal with the truth and accuracy.

Hacksaw Ridge is a very decent piece of film and if it is totally based upon the truth then the man who takes centre stage was certainly one of the bravest and toughest soldiers out there. Andrew Garfield plays Desmond Doss who due to events in his private life while growing up becomes a pacifist and conscientious objector to war.

This earns him the the label of coward from his fellow soldiers who want nothing to do with him as they believe he has no right to be on the battlefield. However, Doss was the first man ever to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour without picking up a single weapon due to the number of lives he saved on the battlefield at Okinawa.

An inspirational film with a decent turn from Andrew Garfield and surprisingly, Vince Vaughan as his sergeant who comes out with some of the best insults since Lee Ermey's Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket.