"Hacksaw Ridge" Film Review

This was a film that told a true story of a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what oppression he faced. He never backed down, and fought harder for what he knew was right. This is a film that is necessary for everyone to see. Today's world is full of oppression, whether it be religious or racial or sexist. Having someone like Desmond Doss to look up to is essential for humanity to understand just what faith is and how important it is to treat others with respect no matter what.

The film begins with a brief battle scene, then takes us back 16 years earlier to when Desmond and his brother were just kids. You see the effects war has on Desmond's father and it hurts to watch him go through it. Then we jump to just one year before the Battle on Hacksaw. We meet Dorothy, a nurse at the local hospital whom Desmond falls for almost in an instant. When Desmond finally does ship off to war, he finds out that not everyone agrees with his unique beliefs.

The acting was spot-on perfect. Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, and Vince Vaughn were among the best performers but Hugo Weaving gave the best of all of them, probably the best of his entire career. There was one particular scene when the family is eating supper. Desmond's brother enters the room in an Army uniform and announces he enlisted. Hugo is visibly upset, but tries to hold it together. The amount of emotion that Hugo pours into this scene is remarkable and it's difficult to not tear up as he talks about his own war experience.

The film did a great job of setting up the characters and getting you emotionally invested in them. The story flowed well and as a whole was masterfully directed. Mel Gibson has made a real comeback with Hacksaw Ridge. I hope to see more incredible films from him in the future. 4 out of 4.