Hacksaw Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge

2016Movie139 minEnglish

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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Insights

IMDb8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes85%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users93%
Director: Mel GibsonGenres: War, Biography, Drama, History

Plot Summary

During the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector and U.S. Army medic, single-handedly saves the lives of seventy-five wounded soldiers without firing a shot or carrying a weapon. His unwavering faith and courage in the face of extreme brutality make him a true hero. Despite facing ridicule and court-martial for his refusal to carry a gun, Doss's actions on the battlefield prove his extraordinary bravery and commitment to his beliefs.

Critical Reception

Hacksaw Ridge received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its direction, performances (especially Andrew Garfield), and visceral depiction of combat. Critics praised its powerful storytelling and its focus on faith and conviction amidst the horrors of war. Audiences were also deeply moved by the film's inspiring true story and its intense, realistic battle sequences.

What Reviewers Say

  • A visceral and unflinching portrayal of war, anchored by a powerful performance from Andrew Garfield.
  • Praised for its strong direction and inspirational true story of faith and courage.
  • The film effectively balances intense battle sequences with a moving personal narrative.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly lauded Hacksaw Ridge for its inspiring true story, powerful performances, and realistic portrayal of war. Many highlighted Andrew Garfield's exceptional acting and the film's emotional impact, with a significant number appreciating its strong themes of faith and bravery.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson, winning for Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. Also received numerous other nominations and awards from various film critics' circles and guilds.

Fun Fact

Andrew Garfield initially struggled to convincingly portray Desmond Doss's Southern accent and spent hours with a dialect coach to perfect it, even practicing on set during downtime.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

8 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Andrew Garfield turns in a strong performance here as a true-life conscientious objector during WWII who refused to bear arms but who was equally determined to play his part as an army medic. He portrays Desmond Doss, a devout Christian who...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

I don't want to say that I dislike Mel Gibson as an actor, I mean he's been in plenty of movies that I love... but like Clint Eastwood, he makes a FAR better director than he ever made an actor. Hacksaw Ridge is just one of those films w...
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**A really good movie, which only lacks in some details.** This was not the first war film directed by Mel Gibson. He had previously made at least one military-themed film, “We Were Soldiers”, set in Vietnam. However, it is a film that a...
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Tribute to a real-life WW2 “conscientious collaborator”*** After Pearl Harbor, Desmond Doss of Lynchburg, Virginia, joins the US Army to become a medic and serves at the Battle of Okinawa. As a Seventh Day Adventist and conscientious...
John Chard

John Chard

Most of these men don't believe the same way you do, but they believe so much in how much you believe. Hacksaw Ridge is directed by Mel Gibson and written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. It is based on the 2004 documentary The Co...
Reno

Reno

**On the battlefront, his intention was to save the lives.** The film was awesome, mainly because of the good message it carried out. That's not it, the film was well made with the wonderful cast and their great performances. The special...
dragon_boi

dragon_boi

I first saw Hacksaw Ridge, back in November when it first came out.. Went to an afternoon screening and it was packed. From the very first scene to the last , I was in awe. This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. The last 30 minu...
starks94

starks94

Out of all the films nominated for best picture, there is one that isn’t getting much attention at all. In Hacksaw Ridge, the narrative surrounding the film doesn’t have much to do the film at all because it’s identity seems to be centered ...