A man grieves on the tombstones of his army company that laid their lives for the United States during World War I. Back home, he raises his boys in a pious setting and asks them to shun weapons. After a naughty fight turns awry, one of his sons, Desmond, reads the Bible and vows not to harm another human in his life hereon. Seeing the Japanese provocation leading to the World War II, both the sons enlist, adding to the ire of the father. But Desmond is singular in his belief of not touching a weapon in spite of wanting to serve as a ‘Combat Medic’ out in the field!
Language:
English
Running Time:
130 min
Rating:
A
Release date:
10 November 2016
Directed by:
Mel Gibson
Produced by:
Terry Benedict
Paul Currie
Bruce Davey
William D. Johnson
Bill Mechanic
Brian Oliver
David Permut
Written by:
Andrew Knight
Robert Schenkkan
Starring:
Andrew Garfield
Sam Worthington
Luke Bracey
Teresa Palmer
Hugo Weaving
Rachel Griffiths
Vince Vaughn
Music by:
Rupert Gregson-Williams
Shot by:
Simon Duggan
Editing by:
John Gilbert
Distributed by:
Summit Entertainment

What’s Hot

  • 10 years after the magnificent Apocalypto, the director in Mel Gibson, come back with a riveting war-drama that also has a strong emotional undercurrent. Gibson’s trademark grace shines through both in the lovely early exchanges as well as the frenetic war sequences.
  • Andrew Garfield is a revelation in the role of the pacifist and it looks like he has lived up to the promise that he showed in Boy A. He shows tremendous restraint and underplays on multiple occasions without ever going into melodrama. One wonders how his slender frame has been able to attract these sort of roles that involve extreme physical discomfort especially with Scorcese’s Silence lined up for release next!
  • Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn perform admirably in well-chiseled characters. Teresa Palmer as Dorothy has terrific screen-presence and has delivered big-time. Vince Vaughn’s dialogues that renders the audience in splits and Hugo Weaving’s consummate portrayal of a father are a treat to the eye.
  • The art department deserves praise for bringing the scenes and settings of the 1930s to 1945s in great detail. Simon Duggan’s primarily hand-held camera work is splendid. It takes characteristic poise in showing the chemistry between Desmond and Dorothy, and that of the wartime gunshots and firing across. The visuals and the editing are stunning to say the least. The sound department needs to be lauded for terrorizing with the sounds of the gunshots and the explosions in addition to howls of pain.
  • Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan have accounted for a 2-hour screenplay that keeps us hooked to the movie peppered with moments that render us speechless, with some magnificent shots of wartime bickering and some slapstick comedies during army training camps. The training camp sequences seem like a lovely homage to Full Metal Jacket.

What’s Not

  • N/A

Badges

Direction
Acting
Cinematography
Sound Design

Verdict

Verdict Stamp

Hacksaw Ridge is a bold and feisty ride that takes us through the story a pacifist who abhors weapons but still wants to serve, that too on the field. It is a masterpiece that brings together –sharp writing and technical wizardry as a wonderful product on screen, without playing too much to the gallery in spite of the ample scope to do so.