Hacksaw Ridge (2016) - Gibson's intense, humbling WWII epic

♥♥♥♥♥

 

+ Best War Movie of the Year + Comeback of the Year: Mel Gibson
 

 

This striking poster for Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge highlights how one man went against the destructive chaos of war

 

Desmond Doss is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian Virginian, who has grown up with an abusive father, who was himself traumatized by experiences in the first World War, when WWII arrives, and Doss feels compelled to enlist, although his convictions make it impossible for him to use violence.

Hacksaw Ridge, written by Robert Schenkkan (The Quiet American (2002)) and Andrew Knight (The Water Diviner (2014)), based on Desmond Doss' true story, is the 5th film from American-Australian master filmmaker Mel Gibson (Apocalypto (2006)). It is an intense war movie, which feels like a classic war film although it depicts the horrors of a Japanese war zone in ways that were impossible 60 years ago and also tells us a fresh story that is instantly fascinating.

Andrew Garfield (Boy A (2007)) as Doss calls to mind an actor like Anthony Perkins. His slightly effeminate demeanor might take a moment to get used to; later it is clear that the particular, unusual sensitivity he has developed here fits the character perfectly. Teresa Palmer (Lights Out (2016)) is darling sweet, and she makes it far from a mystery what makes Doss fall so suddenly for her. Garfield is backed up by an ensemble of terrific actors: Hugo Weaving (Last Ride (2009)), Sam Worthington (Macbeth (2006)), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under (2001-05)) and Vince Vaughn (Be Cool (2005)), who works surprisingly well as the roughneck sergeant.

The film takes us on a journey from a troubled family setting and a blossoming romance, to the sharp-edged hierarchy and harshness of the army, incorporating humor and a consistent focus on Doss' convictions and how they clash with the system. As he overcomes these obstacles, it heads us into the battle for the titular Hacksaw Ridge, a hellish piece of Japanese land that is climbed up ropes on a rocky wall in awesomely mythical fashion. The war scenes are horrific, conveying the pointless destruction, waste and agony of war and the adrenaline rush it creates at the same time. Gibson is a master at work here, SPOILER and I was particularly glad that the film also responded to the waste of enemy lives, and Doss' reaction to this fact as well.

There are a few scenes in the film which are scarred by some digital image compositions which stand out. One is in the training camp with several things going on in the front, middle and back ground, SPOILER and another is towards the end when Doss is lifted down from the ridge, and the camera purports to do a sweeping movement in under his sling. Both are obviously achieved through digital compositing handiwork, which goes against the overall realism achieved in Hacksaw Ridge. - A shame.

But it is also a minor detractor from a great war epic that tells an exciting, horrifying, inspirational and humbling true story. This kind of animal rarely comes to town, so don't miss Hacksaw Ridge in a cinema!

 

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The Expendables 3 (2014) - Unique, bizarre, largely entertaining third action fireball (actor)

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The Beaver (2011) - Odd depression-dramedy with great stars - for the open-minded (actor)

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Apocalypto (2006) - or, Journey to an Extinct World 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Reportedly 40 - 45 mil. $

Box office: 39 mil. $ and counting

= Too early to say

[Hacksaw Ridge premiered September 4 (Venice International Film Festival) and runs 131 minutes. The project was in 'development hell' for 14 years, before it finally took shape with Gibson as director, - who had turned down the project twice before accepting. For financing reasons, the film was set up as a US-Australian co-production with no less than 14 production companies involved, which includes some distributors. Palmer was cast following an audition she shot herself on her iPhone and managed to get to Gibson. Filming took place for 59 days from September - December 2015 in New South Wales, Australia. 500 hectares of land was cleared, including removing 80 trees, which prompted environmentalists to protest, although approvals were gathered, on conditions of replanting and rehabilitating the area after shooting. The accuracy of the film is reportedly pretty high; changes include some things concerning Doss' father and his struggles with him, Doss' prior service in two battles before Hacksaw Ridge and the length of his service in that battle, which actually ran for around 3 weeks. The film opened #3, behind fellow new releases Doctor Strange and Trolls, to a 15.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it fell to #5 in its current second week and has grossed 34.3 mil. $ so far. The film is getting a Chinese release later this month. It has already been nominated for 13 AACTA awards (Australia's Oscar.) Hacksaw Ridge is certified fresh at 85 % with a 7.1 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

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