Hacksaw Ridge

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Desmond Doss is a conscientious objector who enlists in the army during World War II, under the condition that he doesn’t carry or fire a weapon. He wishes to serve as a medic, opting to save lives rather than take them. During the course of his service, he rises from being mocked to being respected as a hero. Essentially, this is two movies joined seamlessly into one. The first half deals with Desmond Doss, the shaping of many of his beliefs, and his relationship with his parents, and with the woman who will become his wife. Director Mel Gibson and screenwriters Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan have crafted a powerful, impactful, and incredible war movie. Gibson films the war scenes with a horrific level of intensity, without really glorifying or relishing in it. Every actor brings their A-game. Andrew Garfield and Teresa Palmer give some their best performances, even showing great chemistry and what I believed was genuine affection. Vince Vaughn plays a drill sergeant, and completely avoids his usual Vince Vaughn persona. The quiet moments in between the war sequences work because they help build and define the characters. Many of the characters actually go through arcs and change. The absolute standout has to be Hugo Weaving. He plays the father of Desmond Doss, a man who was a veteran of the first world war. He is the character that truly shows how much war can change a man. If I have but one flaw, the CG fire used for the explosions and burning was a little distracting to me. I know it’s a nitpick, but everything else was just amazing. Hacksaw Ridge works as a powerful war movie that tells an incredible true story that I highly recommend.

9 / 10