Review: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

[Mark R. Leeper]

HACKSAW RIDGE
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)

CAPSULE: Desmond Doss was brutally mis-treated in the
WWII army because as a religious contentious objector
he refused to even touch a gun. He became a medic and
then was the hero of a battle for a small piece of
Okinawa. The film is full of pieces familiar from other
films, but the realism and carnage possibly even go
beyond that of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. HACKSAW RIDGE is
based on a true story and directed by Mel Gibson. The
film is of epic length, 140 minutes and certainly parts
are a harrowing experience to watch, not to say
terrifying. Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10

Mel Gibson delivers a strong film about real life hero Desmond Doss
(played as an adult by Andrew Garfield, as a teen by Darcy Bryce).
From an early age he refused to kill. The film covers his youth
and relationship with an abusive father (Hugo Weaving). He finds
love with Nurse Dorothy Schutte (blue-water-eyed Teresa Palmer).
Then he goes into the army only to face persecution for beliefs and
his refusal to touch guns. Then the script follows the anticipated
trajectory. The latter part of the film is mostly about taking and
holding the eponymous Hacksaw Ridge, a cliff--not as high as
portrayed in the film but still a formidable target. The only way
up the cliff is by climbing a cargo net used as a rope ladder.
(Though the film does not show it, Doss was one of three men who
heroically volunteered to climb the cliff and hang the cargo net.)
See the "History Vs. Hollywood" link below for a comparison of the
action and the historical facts.

The script by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight generally sticks
extraordinarily closely to the historical facts. The problem with
the script, based on a previous documentary, is that so many of the
sequences and situations of the film were previously dramatized in
films long before the script was written. Even if they are true,
which apparently they are, the film has sequences familiar from THE
YOUNG LIONS, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and
several more. It may just be that there is not that many different
ways to tell a similar story. This one has a religious overlay,
firmly establishing and reminding us of Doss's strong relationship
with God and his religion.

What is unique about this film is the great lengths the film goes
to recreating realistically and accurately the confusion and
carnage and horrors of warfare. Some of this requires a strong
stomach. At least director Mel Gibson spares us extreme close-ups.

One odd touch is that Doss, who would later awarded the
Congressional Medal, is shown giving aid and comfort to an un-
captured enemy soldier, which is quite literally the definition of
committing "treason." Another touch that may be of interest: the
film, directed by Gibson, has a character named Irv Schecter
presented in a positive light. Some of my readers will know why
that is interesting.

Andrew Garfield does not look at first take like someone who would
be a war hero, but then neither did the real Desmond Doss. He does
make this role his own. I rate HACKSAW RIDGE a +3 on the -4 to +4
scale or 9/10.

Film Credits:
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/combined>

What others are saying:
<https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hacksaw_ridge>

A comparison of film and fact:
<http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/hacksaw-ridge>


Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 2017 Mark R. Leeper