Review of Hacksaw Ridge (2016) by David C — 25 Mar 2017

I kind of wrote of Mel Gibson off after his anti-Semitic remarks. But, I decided perhaps he has atoned for his drunken tirade and his movies need not be boycotted by me any longer. Plus, I like a good war flick.

The story itself is undeniably compelling and frankly miraculous. What the man achieved on his own and how he stuck to his beliefs are made for Hollywood - if it was written nobody would believe it. And I feel like that's where the movie misses the mark - even with the graphic, visceral war scenes, this movie feels like a it's shot on a soundstage.

It didn't transport me to Okinawa the way Saving Private Ryan took us along on D-Day. The casting of Vince Vaughn as the Sarge and Hugo Wallace Weaving as the protagonist's father are curious choices.

Perhaps it was simply a matter of who is willing to work with Mr. Gibson. The movie spends a lot of time pre-battle establishing the backstory that formed the beliefs and character of Desmond Doss. Kind of snoozy but the lading lady Teresa Palmer is a compelling actress and easy on the eyes, and she basically carries the first half of the film.

The second half chronicles the bravery of Desmond in the heat of a ferocious battle with Japanese soldiers who are literally dug in on top of Hacksaw Ridge. Where it's supposed to be fear inducing and intense, it feels like the foxholes are on the backlot.

It's a true story - so there are inherent challenges in sticking to a true story. Using Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now as the gold standard of war films, and Saving Private Ryan as Silver (loosely based on a true story), I'd give this a bronze in the war film category.

As a true war story, which is its own category, it's very good, most importantly for putting the spotlight on one man's incredible bravery and service to his fellow comrades in the face of grave danger, a feat worth honoring and remembering.