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Hacksaw Ridge (2016), R, ★★★★

Andrew Garfield going to war.
Where has Mel Gibson been? Well, he has certainly been in the tabloids a lot. But, I will not bring any personal disparities towards the person because I want to solely want to focus on his art as a director because if you look at his resume of movies he has directed, it is outstanding. He has Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto (a movie that I was entranced by from its production and costume designs but its story was one-note.) If you think about it, Gibson is a filmmaking perfectionist. And, in my opinion, I think he does it again with a remarkable story that balances a faith-based character's journey with harrowing and gruesome war sequences that defines accomplished filmmaking.

Desmond Moss (Andrew Garfield) lives in Virginia with his father, Tom Doss (Hugo Weaving), his religious mother, Bertha (Rachel Griffiths) and his brother, Harold. Tom is a hard-drinking man who is haunted by his WWI service and losing his friends in combat. After a traumatizing experience with his brother, Desmond talks with his mother about reinforcing his belief in the Sixth Commandment of the Old Testament. While he was dropping off an injured man at the hospital, he is smitten by a nurse named Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer). They begin dating and they fall in love.

One night, Hal has enlisted in the Army for WWII, upsetting his parents. Desmond is motivated by Hal's doings, so he enlists in the army as well. Because of his religious beliefs, Desmond intends to become a medic. He is placed under the command of Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn). Desmond excels physically during training but his beliefs put him in a situation where he chooses to be an outcast because he does not want to carry a rifle. Howell worsens Desmond's conditions by having the trainees hazing him and going through grueling labor.

On the day that Desmond's squad is being temporarily released, he is arrested for insubordination for his refusal to carry a firearm. During the trial, Desmond pleads not guilty but thanks to his father of reciting the Constitution that his son's refusal to carry a firearm is protected, his charges are dropped and he marries Dorothy. He is sent to the Pacific to participate in the Battle of Okinawa, where they must climb the cliff face of Hacksaw Ridge.


This is a powerful story that is brimmed with themes of faith and persecution and also gruesome depiction of wounded soldiers. Gibson has encapsulated the same horrors of war that is equaled to the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan. If you think about it, this could be the best faith-based film ever since well, Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. It has themes of faith but also there is hope and ascension within his character as basically he starts out as a religious sect who is talked down by doubt but he ascends like an angel to rescue wounded soldiers from the Japanese on the field. It is captured beautifully on film.

You can make a case that Andrew Garfield could potentially garner a Best Actor nomination. (He does have another religious-based film, Silence, by Martin Scorsese coming up.) He gives without his best performance since The Social Network and gives a deserving tribute to real-life person, who rescued 75 soldiers in total. Vince Vaughn is surprisingly good as the tough sergeant, Sam Worthington gives another strong supporting performance as the captain. Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Rachel Griffiths and Ben Mingay give nice performances. And, even though it would have been easy to notice that weird accent, nevertheless, I thought Hugo Weaving gave one of his best performances as his father.

The set-up is predictable like most war movies where as the movie starts with the training and ends with the war sequences. But, this movie has taken a different angle where it is mostly character-driven and religiously based. This real-life pacifist's legacy is respected and honored as he is made useful as a person who can be called a savior on the battlefield displays valor and courage to rescue people in need. The battle sequences are exquisitely detailed and violent, the pacing is on course and the movie does not over-expand religious themes and beliefs onto one character and into the movie. Mel Gibson's latest film is another complete package to his resume and it is great to see his work back on-screen. Like most people say, "focus on the art and not the artist's issues."

****


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