This was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Sound Editing, and won Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) is a man of strong convictions. A Seventh-Day Adventist and conscientious objector, Doss enlists in the Army as a medic over the objections of his father (Hugo Weaving) and his girlfriend (Teresa Palmer). During basic training, he is subjected to severe hazing because of his refusal to carry a firearm. His sergeant (Vince Vaughn) and captain (Sam Worthington) believe Doss to be a potential liability and attempt to force him to quit, going so far as to bring court-martial proceedings. Doss prevails, however, and is shipped off to Okinawa, Japan to join the offensive on Hacksaw Ridge.
This is based on the true account of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive it. The actual story is extremely inspiring and the few clips of Doss and other survivors during the end credits are very moving. I would totally have watched a documentary about this guy. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie does not really do justice to its subject.
In Mel Gibson's hands, Doss becomes very Christ-like, dealing with his tribulations and accusers serenely, and sorrowfully aware that they should be forgiven for they know not what they do. Garfield flashes those wounded puppy-dog eyes at the camera and expects viewers to just melt with sympathy. He even achieves a cinematic apotheosis at the end of the film as the camera pulls away from underneath, leaving him floating up into the sky with the others of God's choosing. It's a little much. Granted, I am a deeply cynical person who does not appreciate such obvious emotional blackmail, so your mileage may vary. It's competently made and Vaughn is more entertaining that he probably should be. That's the nicest thing I can say about it.
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