FilmSnobReviews

Title: Hacksaw Ridge
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey
Runtime: 2 hr 19 mins

What It Is: As the Americans prepare to enter World War 2 Seventh-Day Adventist Desmond Doss (Garfield) feels the need to join the fight. Desmond, however, is a conscientious observer. This means he does not want to pick up a gun, nor kill a person. You can understand how this would be a problem during the great war. Desmond signed up to be a medic and possibly save lives. As he and his company begin to climb the titular ridge Desmond has only two goals to get home to his wife Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) and to save just one more soldier.

What We Think: For all the things Mel Gibson has said and done this guy can really direct. He was the best part of the last two films I saw him in as well with 2016’s Blood Father and the atrocious Expendables 3. Andrew Garfield further establishes just HOW good an actor he is. He gives a performance worthy of a nomination. He plays Doss as a man with a singular focus, saving as many people as possible. It has a scope that Gibson has been known for behind the lens. If we can separate the artist from the art then and only then can we see this brilliance here.

Our Grade: A-, Thrilling, this is the type of film the edge of your seat was made for! I think Gibson does such a good job here. With a tale such as this with such a harrowing nature, you cannot even believe this is a true story. It is, though, and it is one that will stay with you. Doss was the best of humanity and what being a soldier, and an American is all about. See the film, unless you cannot separate the artist from his art then by all means don’t and I’d fully understand.