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ARTS & CULTURE
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Review: 'Hacksaw Ridge' is a gripping, personal drama
GUS HUNNINGHAKE
@gushnunninghake
This image, released by Summit, shows Andrew Garfield in a scene from "Hacksaw Ridge."
Associated Press
Since the uproar he caused over various anti-Semitic remarks in 2006. Mel Gibson has been pretty quiet in Hollywood. Outside of roles in small films like "Edge of Darkness," "Get the Gringo" and "Blood Father," Gibson has done no work as a director since the underrated "Apocalypto" was released in 2006. Now, 10 years later, Gibson has jumped back into the limelight with "Hacksaw Ridge" in an attempt to prove that no amount of controversy can stop him from making a quality film.
"Hacksaw Ridge" is a true story that largely takes place during World War II and stars Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who joins the Army because he believes he can help in ways that no one else can by not killing people. As he moves through the ranks, Doss faces the pressure from everyone around him to forget his convictions and bend to the will of fighting in the war. Doss' struggles all come to a head at Hacksaw Ridge in the Battle of Okinawa, where he calls on his faith to save 75 soldiers from certain death in a place where the hell of war seems to squander any sense of hope. His bravery earns him the Congressional Medal of Honor, marking him the first ever conscientious objector to win the highest award for service to the United States.
Andrew Garfield has one of the best performances of his career as Doss."
This is one of the most instantly gripping and engaging war films in recent years. The horrors of war have not been this well-realized since Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker." As a director, Gibson excels in filming gruesome violence. However, he does so in a way that is terrifying and grounded in realism. Nothing about the battle scenes feels dramatized or added for emotional effect. Gibson has a knack for making these sequences feel personal and true to life. It allows the viewer to be transported right into the thick of it with the other soldiers. Instead of glorifying violence, Gibson keeps the action realistic and gut-wrenching by making the battlefield feel more like a horror scene than a big set piece.
Before Doss' heroics in Japan occur, the film takes time to develop his character stateside as well. Doss' past is important in realizing the decisions he makes, especially when it comes to choosing not to take part in being violent himself. By taking the time to invest in his character from such a young age, the film succeeds in making Doss a
humble, likable hero whose convictions feel valid. It also allows the tension to build up before he and the other soldiers go to Japan to make their mark in the war.
Andrew Garfield has one of the best performances of his career as Doss. He perfectly depicts the hope Doss feels and the struggle he goes through once his beliefs come into question. Garfield delivers emotion and a dramatic heft in his performance that deserves every bit of praise. Look out for his name when Oscar season rolls around.
The supporting cast steps up to the plate in this film as well. Teresa Palmer has perfect chemistry with Garfield as Dorothy, Doss' love interest. Their scenes together are heartwarming and impactful to the emotional core of the film. There are some cheesy lines, but they fit well with the time period and do not detract from the impact of Doss and Dorothy's relationship.
Perhaps the most surprising performance comes from Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell. His role is quite comical, and it adds some lightness to the serious tone of the film, especially during the boot camp scenes. However, Vaughn plays against his normal character type and matches his comedy with an understated seriousness that allows his character to be impactful at times when it counts most.
The only negative aspect of "Hacksaw Ridge" is the way in which it wraps up the final battle sequence. Instead of adding another 20 minutes of runtime, the film montages through the last battle in about five to 10 minutes. This choice is effective enough, but giving more time to let the battle unfold at a normal pace would have added to the film's impact as a whole.
mission and is one of the best of the year.
In the end, "Hacksaw Ridge" does everything a true-to-life war drama should do. It sticks to the facts, is directed with a frighteningly visceral tone and is full of performances
that pay worthy tribute to the men and women depicted in the story. This film is well-worth the price of ad-