Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, who was the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honour. It was directed by Mel Gibson, who was able to revive the Australian War genre through this film after the last few failures over the past decade. This was achieved through the cast, the visual design and its ability to teach viewers about one man’s commitment to his belief.
There are three key elements that made Hacksaw Ridge a film close to perfection: the first is the wonderful cast comprised of only two non-Australian actors, with Andrew Garfield as the leading actor and Vince Vaughan as the comic relief. Throughout the film, the cast was able to give the audience a sense of realism, which made the actors seen as their characters instead of an actor playing a role; this made for a more personal connection to each character. Nikki Barrett should be praised for her casting directing.
The second element that gave the film its excellence is Mel Gibson’s directing. It was clear to the viewers who have seen Mel Gibson’s previous films, like Gallipoli, that he was heavily influenced by Peter Weir’s directing style. By presenting the effects of war on men who served in the army, Gibson created a sense of realism that permeates throughout the film. However, Gibson undoubtedly had some cliché and even cheesy shots in the film; for example, when Garfield was being carried down the ridge on a stretcher, clouds began to appear.
This, however, did not take away the true essence of who Desmond Doss was as a true saviour. Hence, the shot actually managed to capture the atmosphere of the events that occurred throughout the campaign, showing Desmond Doss’ main mission to save others instead of himself, and making him a miracle sent to these men. Gibson’s directing has shaped Hacksaw Ridge as one close to a masterpiece, through being a true visionary, his directing captures each moment the story presents.
The third aspect that gave Hacksaw Ridge its superiority was the lesson the audience received after leaving the cinema. It showed us a man who stays true to his beliefs, even when everyone was telling him not to. By making us believe that as long as we stand firm with our views, we can achieve anything we set our minds to — even if this means fighting in a war without a weapon. We are able to have a connection to Garfield’s character, as everyone stands for something. We follow our beliefs even when we are told not too. We cannot be stopped. We owe a debt of gratitude to Desmond Doss and to the men who served in this campaign.
After the aforementioned previous film failures on this topic, filmgoers wanted something better. This was almost achieved with Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner, however, it was only a stepping stone for what Hacksaw Ridge is to be. Mel Gibson has made a comeback for himself and Australian cinema through the near faultless Hacksaw Ridge.
Mel Gibson has brought back the golden age of Australian War films with Hacksaw Ridge. Go see the movie as soon as possible. Comment below.