War and Peace, Gibson Style

Juxtaposing the horrors of war around a message of peace, Mel Gibson’s 2016 offering, Hacksaw Ridge, is a rivetting piece of film making, capturing a touching love story, a complex family dynamic and harrowing battle sequences, giving us a rich, multi-faceted tapestry.

Providing us with an effective window into the upbringing of our main character, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), Gibson is easily able to make us bond with our lead. Each aspect of the first third of the movie, where we see this boy grow into a young adult, is perfectly chosen, as it renders us with a vision of exactly who he is as a human being.

Son to a kind mother, Bertha (Rachel Griffiths), and a complicated, abusive father, Tom (Hugo Weaving), who is struggling with demons from his time spent in the military during World War I, he also has a brother nicknamed Hal (Nathaniel Buzolic). Nearly killing his brother after a tussle at a young age, Desmond becomes focussed on the Sixth Commandment: thou shalt not kill.

A Seventh-Day Adventist, the pacifist is obsessed with being on his feet: be it walking, running or mountain climbing. He also has heroics woven into his genes, as we see him handily save a man’s life after being hit by a car. Journeying with the wounded gent, he is gobsmacked when he spots a stunning nurse, Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer), taking blood at the hospital. Attempting to talk to her, the simple but not simple-minded man awkwardly makes his way through the conversation. Already in love, Desmond jumps into action, wooing her in unique fashion.

Soon though, he feels like it is his duty to enlist in the army, despite his religious convictions. Joining against Dorothy’s will, the man proposes to his gal before he departs for training. A conscientious objector, he plans on serving as a medic, but soon realizes that he is in store for quite the rude awakening. As an interesting sidenote, the Bible given to Desmond by Dorothy before he departs is bookmarked at 1 Samuel 17 – the story of David and Goliath (a fitting allegory for this underdog story).

Training under Sgt. Howell (Vince Vaughn), a hard-nosed, fast talking military man, his opening scene pays homage to R. Lee Ermey’s character in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. The drill sergeant is like a comic from a Dean Martin Roast, or a Comedy Central Roast (for younger readers), though in a much more menacing way. Desmond gets on the man’s bad side from the very beginning, as he sees the humour in his targeted insults. When firearms training begins, Desmond is unwilling to even touch a rifle.

Being brought to Captain Glover (Sam Worthington), the higher ups are dumbfounded as to why the man would enlist if he is a pacifist – they see it as a form of cowardice. Trying to get him ousted on the grounds that he is mentally unstable, he nonetheless passes the test. When that does not work, Glover and Howell attempt to make his life a living hell, hoping that he will quit of his own accord. Making sure no one in the Company will receive furlough while he persists, the fellow trainees turn on him, ruthlessly beating him in the middle of the night.

Nothing phases Desmond’s strong willed persona, even when they arrest him for insubordination on his wedding day. During his trial, things look grim, until his father barges in, providing proof that his rights are protected by the US Constitution.

Heading over to Japan, they have the perilous task of participating in the Battle of Okinawa – specifically at Hacksaw Ridge. Scaling the cliff following some covering naval fire, they are met by a daunting Japanese force that has continuously pushed back each of the preceding American Divisions.

It is a bloody first day, filled with numerous casualties. Desmond ports himself well, rescuing many men who others said were too far gone. After a successful beginning, they hunker down in foxholes for the night. Desmond finds himself with Smitty (Luke Bracey), the first man who called him a coward. They bond throughout the night, with Desmond revealing that he could take the beatings from his father, but could not watch his mother receive them. He took the gun from his wayward dad, and in his heart and mind, he shot him, which is why he has such an aversion to weapons. The two make amends.

The following morning, the Japanese lead a counter-strike, pushing the Americans back. With no other option, they call the Navy, ordering them to begin firing while they flee their location, making their way back down the rock face. Desmond, being the last one up, looks around to see the unimaginable destruction and horrific death of so many of his squad mates. It is his darkest hour, and he questions his faith, unsure of what God wants from him. Out of the hellish fiery brimstone, he hears the cries of men looking for help. Taking it as a sign, the medic courageously enters the war zone to rescue the wounded.

Like a game of cat and mouse, he must evade cover fire and the relentless Japanese. Saving countless lives, including some of the enemy, the man finally makes his way down after rescuing all he can.

With the troops seeing it as a miracle, they now believe that he believes in a higher power. Glover asks more of him, knowing that they must once again scale the cliff, also understanding that his men will follow Desmond. Will he be able to survive another foray in the monstrous battleground, saving more lives, or will he finally fall under the unimaginable weight of what he is being asked to do?

Directed with immeasurable precision by Gibson, this one reminds us that the man has a knack for filming war. Following the classic Braveheart and the cult classic Apocalypto, Gibson is able to capture the duality of war and peace. Clearly put together with an anti-war spin, we can understand why Desmond is willing to go to such lengths. Despite a complicated childhood, he sees the beauty in life and love. He believes in fighting for what is right, and from his perspective, he feels like he can provide something unique by being a peaceful bystander in the war. Yet, this peaceful message is surrounded by the horrors of war. Gibson, never one to dial back the violence, is able to depict a landscape that is utterly jarring. For those of us who have/had family who fought in World War II, a motion picture such as this can truly make us understand why so many had nightmares and were unwilling to talk about it afterward. It is likely the most realistic and effective portrayal of World War II since Saving Private Ryan.

On top of the superior direction, the performances are top notch. Garfield, utilizing a thick Virginian accent, is easily able to depict the unique man. Though not an overly complex figure (he enjoys the simple things in life), he is able to channel an aura of bravery that is undeniable (giving the movie its heart). Vaughn is superb as the Sergeant. With a vicious facade, there is an undeniable kindness hidden deep below the surface. He easily handles the dialogue, which must be delivered in a booming voice, perfectly capturing the demeanor of a Drill Sergeant. Much like Vaughn, Weaving brings a wonderful dichotomy to the role. Dishevelled and drawn, we could easily see him as an abusive brute (which he is), though he transcends that by building a complicated character that has a pained past. Despite his copious flaws, he cares for his family, and fears that his children will never return home, or if they do, they will come back with the same damaged soul that he must trudge through life with. He has truly never been able to move on, stuck in his perpetual past, reliving the horrors of World War I. Griffiths is equally as strong as the longsuffering wife, who, despite living in constant fear, is still able to muster warmth towards her children. Palmer, as well as Worthington and the rest of those playing the Unit (too many to mention), must also be given credit, as their differing personas, as well as their gazes of horror at the atrocities they have witnessed, only add to the depth of the picture.

Hacksaw Ridge is a powerful piece of film making. Giving us a birdseye view into the life of one miraculous man, we are transported through thick and thin, through the battlefield and even underground into the tunnels of the Japanese. Concluding with interviews filmed with the real life counterparts to those found in the film, it brings to light, with stark reality, just how authentic much of this movie is (though, like any based-on-true-events film, there are definitely some movie magic changes). Etched with Christian symbolism, Hacksaw Ridge is expertly crafted and definitely deserves a watch. So, make the journey to see this harrowing anti-war spectacle, it’s a bloody big deal!