It’s weird saying that, since I’m aware that he’s a talented actor and director. I also realize that he’s always been quirky, dating back to his debut in the late-70’s. But it’s true: not only is the man a rabid Antisemite, something confirmed with The Passion of the Christ, but he’s also nuts. And while I normally try to separate art from artist, since I’d end up not enjoying anything otherwise, Mel Gibson remains that one, hypocritical exception. The only film he’s in that I can still tolerate is Chicken Run, because it’s only his voice. Also, being on Hollywood’s blacklist since 2004 has made it that much easier for me to avoid him.
Which leads me to Hacksaw Ridge, a biopic about a WWII medic who saved 75 men’s lives without ever firing a gun. When I first heard about this movie, I was intrigued…until I heard that Mel Gibson had directed it. That’s when my heart sank and I began, perhaps selfishly, praying for its critical and financial failure. Even with reviews being positive, I was uneasy: it looked good, but how could I justify watching a film by a man who yelled at a Jewish police officer for stopping him for driving drunk? The guilt would be immense, but I try to separate art from artist, so…
For those who don’t know, Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, an idealistic, Seventh-Day Adventist from white family in Virginia whose father’s a struggling alcoholic that served in WWI. From a young age, Desmond grew up being taught that violence was wrong and that taking lives was the greatest sin of all. It was this moral upbringing that led him to enlist during WWII, but with a catch: he refused to fire a gun. Initially taunted by his peers, his request was eventually granted by the time he left for Okinawa. Fortunately, Desmond’s pacifist determinism also brought with it intense compassion for human life, and he’d go on to save 75 of his comrades from the treachery of Hacksaw Ridge.
Right away, the film’s biggest hook is idealism trumping realism. Desmond Doss is frequently portrayed as a saint, a man sticking up for his beliefs. It’s also really easy for a story like this to over-revel in religious iconography, something that’s become a problem in mainstream religious cinema. Yet Hacksaw Ridge escapes that trap by keeping its characters grounded. It never loses sight of its humanity, even with its hero, and for that reason it remains the most-balanced, pro-religion movie in recent memory. As a religious person, I can’t help but respect that.
Fortunately, the second-half of the film is about the abject horrors of war. You’d expect Gibson, who directed the Oscar-winning Braveheart in the 90’s, would know his way around war, but he really lets loose here. The battles at Hacksaw Ridge are bloody, violent and over-the-top, as well as replete with high tension and many effectively-integrated jump scares. Gibson paints the battlefield as a place of nightmares, and there’s a sense of aimlessness and confusion. You’re as lost and alone as the characters are, which is precisely the point.
And this is where Desmond really shines. As I said before, Desmond was a pacifist who refused to injure another person. He was also incredibly-crafty, guided by a sense of mushy-gushy optimism and trust in others. It was this craftiness that enabled him to think outside the box, which was crucial in order to do his job correctly. The movie states that Desmond Doss saved 75 men in the battle of Hacksaw Ridge, including his superior officer, before being wounded himself during the final resistance, and, if the above is indication, it’s easy to see why.
Two points are also worth noting. First, there’s a lot of racist language in this film, yet, like Django Unchained, it never feels out of place due to context of time period. And two, the film has surprisingly strong performances from Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn. That might not seem like a big deal, but given how bland the two actors’ careers have been, as well as their incredibly-limited range, to get such strong performances from them and have it feel natural is a treat. I, honestly, think they should pair up with Gibson again in the future.
I was pleasantly surprised by Hacksaw Ridge. If rooting for Mel Gibson to succeed is like rooting for a recovering addict after several relapses, then consider this a high-point in a troubled man’s life. I only hope he takes himself in the right direction, as I might end up-
Wait, he’s announced a sequel to The Passion of the Christ?! *Sigh* So much for wishful thinking! Here’s to another 10 years of hating you!
No comments:
Post a Comment