'Hacksaw Ridge' Review

Image from Variety

By Diego Coya

            Hacksaw Ridge is directed by Mel Gibson and stars Andrew Garfield. It tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a man who served in World War II during The Battle of Okinawa. Doss had a unique requirement of not touching a firearm and not killing people; he wanted to operate as a medic who would save lives rather than taking them. The film focuses on Doss meeting the love of his life, him convincing other people that he wasn’t a coward, and the struggles he went through with maintaining his religious beliefs.

            As a director, Gibson has proven to be a master of his craft. Braveheart is one of my all-time favorite films, and I find both The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto to be criminally underrated. It’s been ten years since Gibson has directed a film, so to see him tackle a World War II film about a man who did not want to kill other people was intriguing to say the least. After watching Hacksaw Ridge, I can confidently say that Gibson has made his best film since Braveheart. Hacksaw Ridge is also the best war film since Saving Private Ryan.

            I simply cannot praise this film enough. Hacksaw Ridge is powerful, inspiring, and brilliant. The performances from this film are absolutely fantastic; most notably, Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss who delivers the best performance of his career. He did a wonderful job portraying his character as someone who stuck to his beliefs even if it meant going through the worst struggles there is. He was great in the battle sequences (more on that later), and he was excellent in the scenes with Teresa Palmer, who also gives a terrific performance. Their romance was so charming and sweet; you can’t help but admire these two together.

            One of the most surprising elements of the film was the performances from Sam Worthington as Captain Glover and Luke Bracey as Smitty Ryker. These two in particular has not had the best movie careers, but this movie really brought great performances from them. Additionally, Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell was also extraordinary; he nailed both comedic and dramatic scenes very well. However, the standout by far in terms of supporting characters is Hugo Weaving as Doss’s father. He was outstanding in his role as an alcoholic father who used to be in the military and has a hard time understanding why both his sons join the war. Both Garfield and Weaving should get nominated for the Academy Awards, in my opinion.

            As a director, Gibson does not hold back. He portrays the battle sequences as if it was a horror film. They are frightening, brutal, gory, and really well done. The battle sequences were so intense to the point where I was on the edge of my seat. Among all the horror and destruction, the film focuses on one guy who wanted to save as many people as he could. I feel so incredibly ashamed that I did not know who Doss was prior to the film, because this movie left me in a state of silence and I simply cannot stop thinking about it.

            As for flaws, I do not have any. Hacksaw Ridge is a phenomenal film that I implore everyone to go see; although I wouldn’t recommend it for the faint of heart. Gibson has proven once again that he can direct the hell out of a film; he should get a nomination come award season. This film only made $14 million this weekend, and it’s a shame because more people need to see it. Hacksaw Ridge is a film that I will hopefully see again in theaters, because it us damn great.

Rating: 10/10