The
first conscientious objector to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor is the
subject of “Hacksaw Ridge,†a World War II drama directed by Mel Gibson and based
on the true story of Desmond Doss. Doss was raised a Seventh-day Adventist who
had his faith tested after he enlisted in the Army to become a medic. The tale
of Desmond Doss is one of the most remarkable untold stories of World War II.
Book offers, movie contracts and other deals were offered after the war, but
Doss refused for decades. Hollywood studio executives even sent actor and fellow
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy in a futile
attempt to convince Doss to allow them to tell his story.
The
movie opens during the Battle of Okinawa where we briefly meet Desmond Doss
(Andrew Garfield) and his fellow soldiers in battle. The script then flashes
back 17 years to his childhood in rural Virginia where Desmond and his brother
are out exploring in the mountains. After returning home, Desmond nearly kills
his brother during a fight after he smacks his brother on the head with a brick
and knocks him unconscious. This event sends Desmond closer to the deep religious
beliefs shared with his mother. The boy’s father, Tom Doss (Hugo Weaving) is a
WWI veteran suffering from what is today known as post traumatic stress
syndrome, commonly referred to as PTSD. Their father drinks heavily, beats the
boys and traumatizes their mother. The movie flashes forward to America’s entry
into the war when Desmond meets his future wife, Dorothy Schutte (Teresa
Palmer), a nurse at an Army induction site in town. Desmond enlists as an Army
medic explaining to Dorothy, “I can’t stay here while all them go fight for
me.†When Desmond’s father questions his ability to serve in the Army while
holding non-violent beliefs, Desmond says, “While everybody else is taking
life, I’m going to be saving it. That’s going to be my way to serve.â€
The
second act of the movie takes place at Army basic training where the likable Doss
refuses to use a weapon and becomes the recipient of hazing and retaliation
from his fellow soldiers who brand him a coward. Desmond stands by his conscientious
objector status and is jailed on the eve of his wedding. The Army offers him a
dishonorable discharge and will allow him to return home. Dorothy wants him to
accept the offer but Desmond stands by his beliefs and tells the courts martial
board, “With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such
a bad thing to me to put a little bit of it back together.†All charges are
dropped after a high ranking general in Washington D.C. intervenes on behalf of
Desmond’s father and asserts Doss’ right to conscientious objector status. The
convening officer informs Doss he is “free to run into the Hellfire of battle
without a single weapon to protect yourself.â€
The
extraordinary heroic events come in the third act after Doss and his comrades arrive
in Okinawa. There they make their way to the Maeda Escarpment which ranged
between 75 and 300 feet high. The escarpment became known as Hacksaw Ridge by
the soldiers because the Japanese continually advance forcing the Americans to retreat
followed by a new American advance and the resulting high casualties during the
back and forth-like conflict. After a naval bombardment, the men make the
assent climbing the rope ladder up the face of the cliff. Blood drips down on
some of the men as they make the climb and upon arrival it appears as though
nobody could have possibly survived. However, the Japanese are dug in underground
in machine gun bunkers and hidden deep inside impenetrable caves. The Americans
appear to have made a successful advance until a new wave of Japanese soldiers attack
in the morning and drive the Americans down the cliff. Over a hundred wounded
men are left on Hacksaw Ridge including Doss, who chooses to remain behind
enemy lines and help his fallen comrades. He evades death searching for and
rescuing soldiers while hiding from the Japanese and even helps some of their
wounded. He searches through the night and carries or drags the wounded to the
cliff face and lowers them down by rope one-by-one. Astounded soldiers deliver the
wounded men to the hospital where they are treated for their injuries.
Throughout the night Doss prays and asks to save just one more. He eventually
evacuates 75 men lowering them to safety.
The movie, while based on a true story, combines characters, compresses time and juxtaposes events for dramatic purposes. In reality, Doss’ conflict with the Army took place over two years at various training locations and the men of Doss’ group had already fought in the Battle of Guam before arriving in Okinawa. Doss’s exploits, as extraordinary as they appear on screen, were even more extraordinary in real life. He was a shipyard worker at the outbreak of WWII and was offered a deferment from military service to help build ships, but refused. He was drafted and while he claimed conscientious objector status, he referred to himself as a “conscientious cooperator†because he wanted to serve. The movie touches on the high points of his story in a thoughtful and realistic style. The movie is graphic in its depiction of domestic abuse, PTSD, hazing and the gruesome warfare scenes. It is most definitely not for young children or the squeamish.
Andrew Garfield is excellent as Desmond Doss combining the wide-eyed innocence of his rural Virginia upbringing, the convictions of his religious beliefs and the desire to serve his country without compromising his principles. Teresa Palmer’s portrayal of Desmond’s future wife Dorothy is a great addition to the film. Hugo Weaving provides strong support as Tom Doss making the reality of war and loss as he struggles with his demons and PTSD. Rachel Griffiths is also terrific in her supporting role as Desmond’s mother. Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington give fine performances as soldiers who learn how wrong they are about Desmond Doss. Mel Gibson has done an outstanding job telling this tale of faith, religious commitment, duty, honor and courage. The movie was filmed on location in Australia and features a mostly Australian cast.
This is an extraordinary story and one of the best movies of 2016. I originally saw “Hacksaw Ridge†in the theater and the Blu-ray looks and sounds outstanding clocking in at a swift 139 minutes. This Lionsgate release includes a DVD and Blu-ray disc as well as a digital copy. Shared supplements on the discs include a Veterans Day Greeting by Mel Gibson and six deleted scenes. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is the theatrical trailer and a one hour making of documentary titled, “The Soul of War: Making of Hacksaw Ridge†which includes interviews with Desmond Doss, his son, Mel Gibson and members of the cast and crew. It would have been great if the 2004 documentary, “The Conscientious Objector,†was included as a supplement or a bonus disc. That documentary was directed, produced and co-written by one of the producers of “Hacksaw Ridge,†Terry L. Benedict. “Hacksaw Ridge†tells a remarkable story I will not forget.