Mel Gibson directs this American War Hero movie, depicting the life of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), the first man in American history to be given the Medal of Honour without firing a single shot during his service during WWII. The film starts, slowly, with Desmond’s life as a young boy. We are given an insight into events that set the foundations for his refusal to commit acts of violence, and his strong religious faith, which is expanded upon throughout the remainder of the film. Growing up with an often abusive father (Hugo Weaving), who suffers from PTSD following his service during the first world war, there is a real sense that this is also a compounding factor in his commitment to being a “conscientious objector”.
An early introduction of a heroic act brings Desmond to a chance meeting with Nurse Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer), at a local hospital, who quickly becomes his love interest. Conscription for the American involvement in WWII plays out through Desmond’s brother, Harold, who breaks the news to his parents of his deployment at the dinner table in his newly obtained army uniform. This leads to Desmond’s decision that he will join the army effort, not as a regular soldier, but as a medic. When we arrive at the training camp the story touches on Desmond’s struggle between his beliefs and how the army are trying to shape him as a soldier.
With supporting roles by Vince Vaughan as a tough sergeant major and Sam Worthington as the company commander we are then thrown in to the, almost overly graphic, reality of war. With horrific death scenes, often more shocking than those in Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, Gibson gives an authentic view of the devastation and brutality during the battle of Okinawa. Although focused on the US soldiers we get a view of the horrors inflicted on both sides.
Garfield is often goofy in his portrayal making out that Dos was a very straightforward man. Unfortunately, I think this is Garfield’s own personality coming through more than any effort to show what Desmond was like as a person. I don’t believe his acting is Oscar worthy, but perhaps an American audience will see this as charming. There is also a strong christian message which appeals to certain section of the US movie going audience. In one scene on the battlefield we see Doss in a Christ on the cross pose reinforcing the message that what he did was guided by an unseen deity.
Overall a great War movie, and a story that deserves to be told. The footage of the real Desmond Doss at the end of the film tends to remind you of the biographical, talking head, sections at the end of each episode of Band of Brothers. It may be that the heavy religious themes may irk some people but it is something that is at the core of the character and is hard to avoid in conveying his story. To tone it down would be to the detriment of the man and the film.
- The Founder - February 11, 2017
- Hacksaw Ridge - February 6, 2017
