Hacksaw Ridge
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Rated: R
Hacksaw Ridge is a difficult film for me to review. I deeply admire the overall messages of faith, conviction, and staying true to one's beliefs. Desmond Doss is a true hero who deserves recognition. However, as I left the theater I felt conflicted. Is it contradictory to showcase the life of a staunch pacifist while immersing the audience in gruesome wartime violence?
Seventh Day Adventist and pacifist, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) enlists in World War II under the pretense he will not pick up a weapon. He intends on becoming a medic to save lives in the war. Can he make it to the deadly Hacksaw Ridge to save lives?
The first half of Hacksaw Ridge sets up Desmond's life before the war explaining why he is a pacifist. Several scenes involving his family, particularly his father, Tom Doss (Hugo Weaving) are quite intense. Desmond falls in love with a nurse named Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) and soon after deploys as he feels it's the right thing to do. The first half of the film is necessary in Desmond's character development. Without it, we wouldn't know why he felt so strong in his faith or who he was as a person. However, a few moments in this first act get out to a rocky start. (especially the scenes with Desmond and Dorothy) Their early romance feels a bit like a corny Nicholas Sparks movie. This isn't an actor problem, rather a screenplay problem.
Andrew Garfield is excellent as Desmond Doss, which isn't a surprise if you've ever seen him act. I will tell anyone who will listen that he was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the greatest film of our generation,The Social Network. (There's .03% chance I'll ever review an Andrew Garfield movie without mentioningThe Social Network.) Desmond exudes such love and kindness for others, even in the midst of extreme adversity. His pacifist beliefs are unprecedented in war time and truly fascinating.
As a Christian, I was incredibly moved by Desmond's personal convictions and commitment to God. Even if you dislike faith based narratives, there's so much to admire about his story.
Vince Vaughn is in this movie! He just shows up out of nowhere as an army officer. He was actually one of the highlights of the movie for me because he lightens the mood with a few particularly funny scenes. He also has a good balance of dramatic scenes as well. I'm impressed with Vince Vaughn's acting skills here. I thought he would only do comedies forever, but Santa's brother is growing up.
The majority of the film takes place at Hacksaw Ridge, a physical manifestation of hell on screen. Bombings, shootings, severed limbs, and decapitations take place repeatedly throughout the battle sequences. Soldiers are shot down so quickly, the audience can barely tell what's happening at times. Amidst the carnage, Desmond rushes to their side to help them in their darkest hour.
At a certain point in the film, I began to wonder how much violence is too much? The problem here is Mel Gibson focuses so deeply on Desmond's plea of pacifism then revels in every cinematic detail of bloodshed. The film feels like a walking contradiction. Obviously, Desmond Doss saw horrifying things at Hacksaw Ridge. I expect violence in war films, but I don't expect the directors to go this far while preaching a message of pacifism.
Another issue I have with Hacksaw Ridge is the use of shaky cam. It's used during most of the battle sequences in the film. I understand that the filmmakers probably used it to create a feeling of chaos from an artistic standpoint. But, it creates a dizzying effect that's just not pleasant. Shaky cam, my sworn enemy. When will you give me peace and leave cinema alone?
The themes of faith, strength and perseverance in Hacksaw Ridge are admirable. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if the film's violent content is handled in a realistic or excessive manner. In my opinion, the focus on gratuitous violence in Hacksaw Ridge feels like a contradiction in the face of its pacifist message.
My Rating: 6/10