Hacksaw Ridge
2016
****
Director: Mel Gibson
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn, Ryan Corr, Richard Roxburgh, Richard Pyros, Luke Pegler, Ben Mingay
When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Desmond Doss wants to become a combat medic. However, it's an upward struggle because Desmond refuses to carry a firearm or kill a man due to his religious convictions. This true story of an unlikely war hero is based on the book The Conscientious Objector by Terry Benedict. Mel Gibson's drama is consistently gripping, whether Desmond is enjoying a tender moment in the home front, challenging his comrades and superiors in the training phase, or facing the horrors of war in the Battle of Okinawa. Andrew Garfield gives a very strong lead performance. Academy Award winner for best film editing and sound mixing.
