Imagine yourself storming the beaches of Okinawa at the height of the second World War. You trudge against sand riddled with bodies of the dead, limbs that are amiss and fog that diminishes your view to about five feet. Explosions can be heard off in the distance and men can be heard screaming as they choke on their own words. You sit with your squad with nothing but your helmet, a bag full of medical supplies and the holy book. What’s missing? Your gun. Mel Gibson (“Mad Max”) immerses the audience in this world as he puts them into the depths of hell in the war-torn, bullet retched bio-pic “Hacksaw Ridge.”
During World War II, each battlefield and soldier had a story to tell, and the many men who were deployed at the battle of Okinawa are no exception. One unlikely hero stands at the heart of this story, and his name is Desmond Doss. Doss, the protagonist of the film, is played by Andrew Garfield (“The Amazing Spider Man”) and based off of one of the first unarmed soldiers in the war who served as a medic and saved the lives of 75 men in battle. “Hacksaw Ridge” displays a rare form of knowledge about warfare and its coinciding emotional impact, which makes the film a true masterpiece and must-see spectacle of the year.
Mel Gibson does an unbelievable job of portraying war and its gritty details–not only its ill stricken horrors but its complexity and the significance of each soldier’s life. Heart pounding moments and high octane action scenes, along with precise and surreal cinematography, bring the film to life. It puts you in the heart of the battlefield, bearing witness to the calamity with the sandy beaches of Okinawa.
As for the acting, Garfield’s character takes center stage and the roll calls for an individual who is interesting and virtuous with every word. Garfield is the right choice for the role of Doss. He convincingly portrays the soldier’s willingness to fight and his empathy for other humans, a simply mesmerizing performance. Ultimately, though, it’s Vince Vaughn’s (Wedding Crashers) character, Sergeant Howell, that really steals Garfield’s spotlight.
Vaughn is very determined and robust in a way unlike any other role he has ever played. He portrays Howell as an utmost neurotic and heavy willing power man, who is given grace and mere charisma through the actions of his squad. Vaughn’s portrayal of Howell is his best performance yet– ultimately Oscar nomination worthy.
In the end, it’s not the bloody bullet-retched scenes of mass devastation, but rather the bright side of war that is often overlooked. Through the eyes of an unlikely protagonist, we see a hero like no other, who is portrayed with immense passion and life.
Desmond Doss is cinema’s most realistic portrayal of any historic figure in recent years, made even more detailed by his inner struggle and controversial argument of not fighting with weapons in the war. With his miraculous behavior and courageous tactics, Doss helps win the battle and the hearts of the audience. It all adds up to making “Hacksaw Ridge” one of the best written and performed war films, a powerhouse of a movie that is well worthy of an Oscar.
Rating: A+
