HACKSAW RIDGE (2016) Review
Directed by Mel Gibson
It’s quite a unique mix of themes, having to tackle a war story that has romance and a main character that has deep faith and rejects murder or killings, Hacksaw Ridge is not your ordinary war hero story.
If not for the cancellation of The Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield wouldn’t have had the chance to work with Mel Gibson in one of his films, and also, be nominated in various award giving bodies including the Oscars for Best Actor. A deserving nomination as his performance in this Mel Gibson film is charming but at the same time, gets to be heartfelt as it presents its story in a deeply personally way. He gets that charm from his and Emma Stone’s chemistry in The Amazing Spider-Man and had it work with him and Teresa Palmer in this film.
The color of the film at times reminds the color of another Mel Gibson and probably his most popular film The Passion of the Christ, no further connections with the film but the brutality of the war scenes in Hacksaw Ridge are as painful, as weakening, as hard to watch as the whipping and the painful hardships Jesus was going through in the film.
As the war begins, the film will definitely make you feel there is a battle going on. Starts with a fire from the other side which makes you jump and continues with brutal representation of war. Blood, parts of the body being thrown away in explosions and even the look at those soldiers who are suffering. These are hard to look at images but it wants to be honest in representing the dangers in war.
A deeply moving and inspiring war drama film as it is horrifying in capturing the dangers in a battle. Andrew Garfield gives the best performance of his career in a film that gives light in the darkness, that gives hope and courage in despair. It’s not your usual war hero story but it’s the perfect example of what humanity strives to be or should be in a time of inhumanity.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
“Hacksaw Ridge” is now showing in Philippine cinemas from Buena Vista International, released through Columbia Pictures. Rated R-16 by the MTRCB.