Hacksaw Ridge is one of those war movies that doesn’t just pack an emotional punch, but delivers the essence of Hollywood drama without straying too far from the facts. Directed by Mel Gibson, the World War II movie stars Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss, a combat medic famous for his role in the Battle of Okinawa, and who never carried a weapon into battle due to his religious beliefs.
Gibson is no stranger to the historical war genre, although he’s known for embellishing the truth more than strictly adhering to the facts: Braveheart (1995) is a prime example. While this is a defining Gibson characteristic, cinematic exaggerations are quite the norm. Hacksaw Ridge breaks away from this trend as one of modern cinema’s most accurate depictions of WWII, an achievement worth recognizing.
Hacksaw Ridge Accurately Depicts the Battle of Okinawa
Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss in battle from the movie Hacksaw RidgeImage via Lionsgate
The Battle of Okinawa was one of the last major skirmishes of WWII, with Japanese and primarily American soldiers fighting between April 1 and June 22, 1945. By the end of the conflict, the Allies emerged victorious, although with 100,000 military and civilian lives lost in the process. Hacksaw Ridge doesn’t shy away from the violence, bloodshed, and all-around gore that comes from fighting of this size. The movie captures the massive explosions, the gruesome deaths, terrified soldiers, and so on.
Gibson’s WWII movie doesn’t just handle the Battle of Okinawa correctly from a psychological and visual standpoint, but also manages to get a lot of smaller tactical details correct, too. The Hacksaw Ridge itself (otherwise known as the Maeda Escarpment) is brought to life in size, strength, and terrain. The fighting is up close and personal instead of occurring from far away, adding emotional weight. The Japanese ambush of the Allies and their defensive tactics are another factual highlight.
Andrew Garfield’s Portrayal of Desmond Doss is Realistic
From portraying superhero Peter Parker/Spider-Man to playwright Jonathan Larson (Tick, Tick…Boom!), Garfield’s versatility as a performer tends to fly under the radar. In Hacksaw Ridge, Garfield gets to flex his serious acting chops. Doss (1919-2006)saved roughly 75 soldiers during the Battle of Okinawa and subsequently received the Medal of Honor. He is also one of the only decorated soldiers to never fire, or even carry, a weapon due to his religious beliefs.
When it comes to bringing a WWII veteran and his achievements to the big screen, Garfield does a fantastic job at capturing Doss’ infinite amount of courage, especially when push really comes to shove. Doss’ refusal to handle a weapon despite a heavy arsenal being pointed at him and his fellow men is something that Garfield brings to life respectfully. As the personal underdog of this story, Doss is someone that people gain respect for and want to root for, a transformation that Garfield excels at expressing.
Hacksaw Ridge Dramatizes Real Life Without Overdoing It
Desmond Doss saves lives in Hacksaw Ridge.Image via Lionsgate
Hacksaw Ridge is a generally faithful WWII movie, although that’s not to say that it’s 100% accurate to real life. While the overall message and bloody conflicts are truly reminiscent of the time, Gibson does sneak some dramatic liberties in for a larger effect. In real life, for instance, Doss was not arrested and court-martialed for his refusal to handle a weapon during training. Doss was already married to Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer) when he joined the Army as well, while the movie marries them after the supposed court-martial.
The difference between Hacksaw Ridge and Gibson’s other historical/biographical epics is that in this movie, the deviations between fact and fiction complement the story without taking attention away from it. With enough detail changed or removed entirely, the entire tone or message of a movie can easily shift, rendering it to automatic criticism.
By sticking to the general facts of Doss’ experiences and the Battle of Okinawa while adding some creative juices into the mix, Gibson manages to convey tones of hope, perseverance, and dedication without wavering too far from the core truth. As a result, Hacksaw Ridge becomes a great War movie that’s both emotional and accurately portrayed.
Release Date
November 4, 2016
Runtime
139 minutes
Director
Mel Gibson
Writers
Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan
Producers
Bill Mechanic, Brian Oliver, Bruce Davey, David Permut, Paul Currie, Terry Benedict, William D. Johnson
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Andrew Garfield
Desmond T. Doss
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Sam Worthington
Captain Glover
