Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Writers: Robert Schenkkan, and Andrew Knight
Cast: Andrew Garfield (Desmond Doss), Sam Worthington (Captain Glover), Luke Bracey (Smitty Ryker), Teresa Palmer (Dorothy Schutte), Richard Pyros (Teach), Jacob Warner (James Pinnick), Milo Gibson (Lucky Ford), Darcy Bryce (Young Desmond), Roman Guerriero (Young 'Hal' Doss), James Lugton (Hiker), Kasia Stelmach (Hiker's Friend), Hugo Weaving (Tom Doss), Rachel Griffiths (Bertha Doss), Nathaniel Buzolic (Harold 'Hal' Doss), Dennis Kreusler (Sergeant Amos), Firass Dirani (Vito Rinnelli), Michael Sheasby (Tex Lewis), Luke Pegler (Hollywood Zane), Ben Mingay (Grease Nolan), Nico Cortes (Wal Kirzinski), Goran D. Keut (Ghoul), Harry Greenwood (Henry Brown), Damien Thomlinson (Ralph Morgan), Ben O'Toole (Corporal Jessop), and Vince Vaughn as Sgt. Howell).
Opening sequence:
Desmond T. Doss had saved 75 lives in the WWII Battle of Okinawa, Hacksaw Ridge. He also treated 55 during battle, those soldiers were able to move without assistance. Desmond had rescued 300 men during his 3 weeks of hell in Hacksaw Ridge. Desmond wasn't the only soldier in the front lines without carrying a weapon, Korea and Vietnam there were several Seventh Day Adventists enlisted, these men were 1A-O which meant they're willing to serve in combat. Quakers volunteers, AKA the society of friends. Either way all the men i mentioned were brave and strong enough to endure the conditions.
The ridge where the soldiers had to climb was dangerous, because the enemy was almost ready every time. The Japanese were relentless, they rushed in, dangerous on the battle field. These men were a force to be reckon with. The American soldiers had there own strategies, enough to take the opposition out, and more. Soldiers had to endure the incredible massive army that was on the ridge waiting for them. The tunnels, to the front line attacks. The firepower, continued as the Americans pushed forward.
Review:
The film begins with war. Images of soldiers being blown apart. Gunfire from all around. The dangerous debris from the explosions. Soldiers running for cover in the trenches, the explosions continue. Fire erupts and burns soldiers running for cover; The fire consumes it's target. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield) is murmuring something important. Soldiers tell him everything is going to be OK. The stretcher, he is being carried. Desmond looks around and tries to make out the words, but nothing seems right. "God will go weary of his children," thought Desmond. Or did he just say it. No words can describe the rushing pain. The ridge is near, and the stretcher is lowered. he notices soldiers trying to say something, but his pain makes him close his eyes.
"Most of these men don't believe the same way you do, but they believe so much in how much you believe." - Captain Glover-
That particular scene in the film is the very beginning. Doss (Garfield) is on a stretcher looking up kinda talking to himself. His brothers or company, continue telling him everything is going to be OK. A touching moment that conveys the tone of the film. Let me start by saying Andrew Garfield is by far an amazing actor, with that being said this film would be very different if someone else would've played the part of Desmond T. Doss. The fire of the film to me was Garfield, he really did the part some justice.
Another character in the story that i really loved is Vince Vaughn's Sgt. Howell. He did the character well, all the soldiers were behind him at the barracks and definitely in battle. He was hard nosed, bad ass! the way a true Sgt. should be. I liked him not because of his toughness, but the way he evolved to being something different. He made a difference towards the end, a real believer in Desmond, which made the film much better. It was the connection between the two, but per say the beginning of the film was a living hell for Desmond because of his none rife usage.
The war especially WWII was devastating, it changed so many lives, some in a good way, others in a horrible way. In the movie the film's focus was the Japanese, German allied force. Battle in Okinawa, the 400 foot cliff was nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge. The battle needed to be won in order to take Okinawa, but everything seemed to dangerous to take. Doss ran into gunfire lowering each soldier down to safety. 75 soldiers he had saved, and before everything was done, the brutal conditions and the three weeks of hell before they finally took Okinawa. Desmond had saved or managed to help was a total of 300. His bravery that pushed him forward, his endurance that kept him going, was the main focus. He pushed, and pushed until he knew his body couldn't anymore.
"Help me get one more." - Desmond T. Doss-
Say what you will about war movies, but personally Mel Gibson did it well, as he does with most of his films. Perfect moments on Desmond's life like the way he was against using a rifle, and taking a man's life. Tom Doss (Hugo Weaving) despite being an avid drinker, he also abused his wife Bertha Doss (Rachel Griffiths). There was one night that Desmond almost killed his father, at least that was what his insides told him to do. He either finished it or ask the Lord for forgiveness. The oath he made to God. He will never pick up a gun again, never harm another. help those like the bible says it should be done. He enlisted to help his fellow soldiers. But, at first the Army didn't agree with his terms. Granted i understand, it's all part of being in the military. You must follow everything to a tee. The guy went to hell and back with his own people, soldiers that would become brothers. Desmond was a Seventh Day Adventists which made it difficult for the men to deal with. He was the odd man out. But, little did they know that this odd man would be their hope, light at the end of the tunnel. Lead by example, and that's what Desmond did. He didn't need to prove himself, it was already there.
The film overall was excellent, beautiful, wonderful story of true bravery. I give Desmond T. Doss huge credit, he was kind, grateful, and probably the most important of all was when he went underground tunnels to evade the Japanese. He was caught with nowhere to go, but moved from one area to another. Had really no way of knowing anything, but as he evaded, Desmond came to a Japanese soldier. Injured, half alive. Desmond still used his medical aid on the soldier. He could've killed him, but his oath of not killing stood strong. His convictions were spot on, the guy wasn't going to bend. The fact that a war is going on, he went after the injured, as well as risking his own life by lowering them as bullets sprayed towards him. He never let down, each man in some way came back. Hacksaw Ridge was awful, and dangerous. The place where men get killed as soon as they finish the climb. Explosions, gunfire, death from all around.
"All i saw was a skinny kid. I didn't know who you were. You've done more than any other man could've done in the service of his country. Now, I've never been more wrong about someone in my life, and I hope one day you can forgive me." -Captain Glover-
Hacksaw Ridge was not your typical war movie. It's a story about Desmond T. Doss the man who challenged the military on his convictions, and stood strong. His morality was at stake, what was right could be wrong, and what was wrong could be right. A combat Medic was his description, but without any weapon. Under fire, with bombs going off, gunfire everywhere you turn. The guy did it for three weeks, not a small feat but a very large one. The soldiers of the Ridge were grateful, at least after Desmond had saved their lives. The same soldiers that did not understand, beat him inside the barracks. Those same men have a fresh look at Desmond T. Doss. The love for God and his beliefs strong enough to with stand anyone or anything that comes his way. Everyone did a wonderful job in making of this movie. I just wish Desmond himself was alive today to see this film, after all the director, writer, the people involved did tell the WWII story, but a personal story of one man's bravery, which was tested at home and in the Battle field.
Desmond Thomas Doss Born February 7, 1919 Lynchburg, Virginia. United States. He died on March 23, 2006 (87). Piedmont, Alabama, United States. He served the United States Army from 1942-1946 with a Corporal rank. B Company, 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. Medal of Honor, Bronze Star (2) w/"V" Device, and Purple Heart (3).
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