In many ways, Hacksaw Ridge feels familiar and even embraces clichés of the genre but the outcome is a purely visceral experience that also has moments of great inspiration. As I was watching it, I was a bit letdown by the routine nature the film seemed to be headed but director Mel Gibson is a pro at using action and violence to conjure up deep emotion. There is so much power in the battle scenes that they even rival some of the greats. There is also proper character development that makes these sequences even more engaging to watch and in the end, Gibson returns to form in a film he should be very proud of.
Hacksaw Ridge opens by introducing us to two brothers – the competitive Desmond and Howard Doss. The boys’ father, Tom (Hugo Weaving), an alcoholic World War I veteran who, some 15 years after the 1918 armistice, suffers from a combination of PTSD and survivor’s guilt, is prone to violent rages. Following Pearl Harbor, both Desmond played as an adult by Andrew Garfield and Howard decide to enlist – a move that divides them and Tom, who doesn’t want them serving. While Howard opts for a conventional enlistment, Desmond enters the army as a conscientious objector, intending to be a medic. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer) and promises to marry her on his first leave.
The next segment is when the film succumbs to a few conventions of the films that have come before it. It’s essentially a basic training portion that is complete with a gruff commanding officer, Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn), some hazing, and a little bonding. Desmond doesn’t fit in because he won’t touch a gun. This earns him the label of a “coward.” Eventually, with the help of his estranged father, he gains the right to stay in the army as a conscientious objector and when he arrives on Okinawa and participates in the attack on Hacksaw Ridge – a 400-foot high escarpment – he more than proves his worth and this is when the film hits its stride.
As a filmmaker, Mel Gibson has been very successful at telling stories about heroism and self-sacrifice and he has never been shy about bold depictions of intense violence. Look no further than The Passion of the Christ which was heavily criticized in many circles for its R-rated depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion. This is where he shines as a director. This isn’t violence for the sake of violence and it enhances the emotion. The first half of Hacksaw Ridge is workmanlike in its execution but not especially spectacular. It does the necessary job of establishing the characters, situations, and relationships but the movie really comes to life when the men of the 1st Battalion start their assault. If you want a solid comparison to how powerful these scenes are think of the battle scenes in Saving Private Ryan that takes place on Omaha Beach. They hold nothing back with the horrors of combat being presented unflinchingly. Gibson expertly choreographs each sequence so that, although we get a sense of that we are witnessing something horrific and chaotic, we are never confused about how these things unfold.
I’m really excited to see Andrew Garfield take on a good role in this film. He has been one of my favorite younger actors working today since his roles in Never Let Me Go and The Social Network. Some say his star was tarnished when he took on the Spider-Man role in the two The Amazing Spider-Man films (I personally think he was better than Tobey Maguire) but he has still managed to add a little something to each of his roles. As Desmond, he’s completely solid and likable. You need to engage with him as the lead and you do so instantly. Teresa Palmer has the thankless role of the “love interest” which leaves her very little to do but they do share adequate enough chemistry for you to root for Desmond to come home. One of the reasons why Teresa Palmer’s role is so limited is because, in a movie that is driven by male-dominated combat, there’s no room for a woman. That isn’t a dig whatsoever it’s just the nature of the story. As a result, she appears only in the sequences that take place at home. The casting of Vince Vaughn is a pretty interesting choice. It feels a bit like a mistake at first since he comes off as a little lightweight in the scenes when he should be more like R. Lee Ermy in Full Metal Jacket. He eventually grows into the role and becomes exceptionally good once he gets onto Hacksaw Ridge. Other supporting work is provided by Sam Worthington as Captain Glover, an officer who initially berates Doss, and Hugo Weaving in a small but highly effective role as the as the troubled father of the brothers.
Hacksaw Ridge doesn’t have moments of rousing appeal that dominate some of Gibson’s other films like those in Braveheart. That’s understandable because the heroism here is a bit more understated. The moments we want to cheer aren’t huge but it’s more about cheering on human behavior. The film does a solid job of making us believe in heroes and it’s about saving lives rather taking them. Despite this more pacifist approach, viewers should be warned that the movie doesn’t shy from showing what happens when a high-velocity round connects with human flesh. There’s more gore here than in a horror movie but it serves the story, despite how graphic it is.
Hacksaw Ridge is based on a true story and it tackles a lot in its running time, which is a little over two hours. Desmond Doss became the first conscientious objector to win the United States Congressional Medal of Honor and at the end, we see snippets of a 2006 interview with the real-life Doss (who passed away later that year). It’s nice that we are given an opportunity to hear his account of some of the events whose dramatization we have just witnessed. It’s pretty rare in films like this but it’s a nice touch.
The Oscar season is full of real life stories that want to tug at our emotions (Sully, Deepwater Horizon and even The Birth of a Nation are recent examples). Despite a clichéd start, Hacksaw Ridge demonstrates the power that these real life stories have. When we have something to grasp onto, the emotion becomes more palpable. Mel Gibson has crafted a solid effort that shows us the endurance and power of real life heroes.
Reel Talk gives Hacksaw Ridge 3 Reels
