Hacksaw Ridge

“Soldier Who’s an Anti-War”

Production : Pandemonium Films, Permut Productions, Vendian Entertainment, Kylin Pictures
Distributor : Summit Entertainment, Icon Film Distribution
Director : Mel Gibson
Casts : Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn
Duration : 139 minutes

Hacksaw Ridge turns the impossible into the big screen. Set in World War II where Desmond Doss an American pacificist combat medic who is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian who refuses to carry or use a firearm or any kind of weapon. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be rewarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor in America’s military.

This film is a huge one. It was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films of 2016, Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, etc. (and looking at al the facts, soon Oscar lists would be full with this film). It receives a 10-minute standing ovation in 73rd Venice Film Festival. It succeeds at the Box Office. This film has it all. You saw the trailer, you know it’s a good one.

Set for 2 hours and 18 minutes this film is Mel Gibson’s comeback as a director since his last film Apocalypto in 2006. Stared by the Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss and Teresa Palmer as Dorothy Schutte; Doss’s wife. Sam Worthington starred as Captain Glover, Vince Vaugh as Sergeant Howell and Luke Bracey as Smitty and Hugo Weaving as Doss’s father.

In development hell for 14 years and Mel Gibson even turned down the project for two times and finally said yes when asked for the third time. Everybody thought this film would not come true! The story of Desmond Doss is already interesting. A soldier who doesn’t want to use or hold any firearm or any kind of weapon?! Even though the theme is so much different with Mel Gibson’s Braveheart this time Gibson able to make another masterpiece.

How the war is described is genuinely creepy and scary with jump scares gives this film other colors. Maybe that’s how one of Gibson tricks to describe the hate, the fight so tense and deep which the opposite Doss’s believe. The script, the directing, the acting is absolutely perfect. If the audience is tired they’ll give something to give the audience a break. High praises for the actors especially Garfield’s performance. He can bring out Desmond’s character into the loving innocence soldier everybody would remember. Teresa Palmer also shows her good performance in this film also with good performance of Hugo Weaving.

How the building of the characters of each soldier brings colors for the audience of this film. Starting from Richard Pyros who played as Randall “Teach” Fuller the naked man is really funny. And how Luke Bracey’s character hated and then be good to Doss is well connected. The entire film is full of one shot and beautiful ones. The ending of the film where Doss’s finally went down from after saving so many lives is beautifully executed. It touches people’s heart and also people’s soul. This anti-war film is one of the Best Film so far! Everything’s beautifully put.

This film is another prove that film could be a bridge to people that a life without violence is not impossible. At last, we thought Mel Gibson was taking a break from his last film in 2006 but instead he is preparing for something big as Hacksaw Ridge! This film is worth Oscars next year!

(Anna Rose)

Point: 90