Grade: A-
As a moviegoer, isn’t it wonderful when a film pleasantly takes you by surprise? While making my way through this year’s Best Picture nominees before the Oscar ceremony, I was not anticipating Hacksaw Ridge with excitement. I was anxious to get this 2 hour and 19 minute war movie over with so I could cross it off the list and move on. I found it, however, to be a minor miracle; a beautiful, shimmering, inspiring piece that kept my attention and got so many things right. I don’t know what motivated director Mel Gibson to tell this amazing story, but I’m so glad he did. Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a humble young passionate Christian from Virginia who enlists in the Army, but refuses to fire a single shot or even bear a weapon – instead, wants to train to be a medic. He wants to save people, not kill people. He is described as a “conscientious objector,” and is not too popular with the men he’s serving with, and especially his drill Sergeant (a marvelous Vince Vaughn – who knew he had this kind of role in him?). I smiled with delight as Vaughn’s character made his first entrance, storming into the bunk with the men lined up at attention, and coming up with nicknames for each of them – most of them derogatory. My favorite was his quip to the tall lanky guy who slightly resembled a corpse. “How long have you been dead?”
After an infectiously watchable first act laden with beautiful scenery, small-town old-time charm, puppy love at the picture show, and complications with the law which ultimately result in Doss being allowed to stay in the military, the second half takes place at Hacksaw Ridge, where it delves into war movie territory. Doss is up there in the front lines, helping and saving as many lives as possible. He ends up being the first American man to receive the Medal of Honor, who never took a life. Best Actor Academy Award nominee Andrew Garfield brings the perfect straight-edged tones of honor and sincerity to the leading role of Desmond Doss. Truly an astonishing man and story. I normally rail against films that end with captions that tell us what ends up happening to everybody, but here, it puts the ideal button on things, and we even see interview footage of some of the “real life” people. Hacksaw Ridge is a revelation. It filled me with a surprising amount of pride.
Grade: A-
Film Reviews by Mark 
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