Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

☆ ☆ ☆

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) – M. Gibson

Over-the-top and excessive in every aspect (some might say indulgent, but others seem to love over-dramatized films like this), from the stereotypic love story to the unrelenting battle scenes.  Mel Gibson directed and having not seen any other films by him, I can only suspect that the mix of hard-core religion and ultra-violence is his own personal signature.  Andrew Garfield plays Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who nevertheless signs up for combat duty in WWII (in the Pacific theatre) to serve as a medic.  He gets hard done by during boot camp, pilloried for his religious beliefs and nearly court-martialled and drummed out of the service for refusing to carry a weapon.  But, of course, he prevails and ends up with the medal of honour.  The true story upon which the film is based is undoubtedly moving and inspiring but the syrupy ode to the man is pretty tough to take at times.  The centrepiece of the film is more than an hour of gory battle scenes, with corpses everywhere, men dying in horrific fashion, and a genuine hell-on-earth mise-en-scene.  Perhaps this is how battle really feels – but do you really need to see it?  I’m sure the technical wizardry required is impressive but again, the sweeping music and dramatic crescendos nearly capsize things.  A bunch of Australians take roles here (alongside an always charismatic Vince Vaughan) but few are able to define their characters above the fray.  Watch if you must but there are better war films (e.g., The Steel Helmet, 1951 or The Big Red One, 1980, both by Sam Fuller).