Hacksaw Ridge

I'm always a sucker for a great historical drama, so I was really excited to see "Hacksaw Ridge," one of this year's Best Picture nominees. I was amazed that Andrew Garfield was able to take on two major lead roles in 2016- the other role was the lead in Scorsese's "Silence," another astounding film that I don't think received enough credit. I used to write off Andrew Garfield as simply an okay actor. He gave a pretty good performance in "The Social Network," but it didn't leave a strong impression. He then got on my bad side when starring in "The Amazing Spider-Man," because no one does Spider-Man like Tobey Maguire. That being said, 2016 was the year of Andrew Garfield. I now have so much respect for him as an actor, as he gave an incredible performance starring in two of this year's biggest films.

"Hacksaw Ridge" told the true story of Desmond Doss, a WWII medic that refused to hold a gun let alone kill another man in war due to his faith. This film was directed by Mel Gibson, which frankly deterred many people from seeing the film. People's strong negative reaction to a film directed by Gibson truly demonstrates the importance of maintaining a positive reputation in Hollywood. Gibson is known for his anti-Semitic comments as well as alleged domestic abuse- these were bound to discourage many people from seeing the film. Believe me, I am equally horrified by Mel Gibson, but I am a strong advocate for separating work from personal life.

Desmond Doss, played by Garfield, was a Virginian Seventh Day Adventist who enlists in the army as a medic. His religious beliefs make him a very distinct WWII medic, however- he does not believe killing a man is ever okay, even in a time of war. Due to his strong beliefs, he refuses to even hold a gun let alone use one. His peers strongly react negatively to this seemingly odd behavior, making it very difficult for him to feel accepted in the army. I don't want to give away everything that happens in "Hacksaw Ridge," but essentially the film tells a compelling true story about a hero. There's something deeply moving in Garfield's portrayal of deeply spiritual Doss, a raw tenderness that is uncommonly found in films depicting war. Garfield played a priest in "Silence," so it was really fascinating to see him depict two very different characters that still had a common thread of spirituality.

Over all, I really enjoyed "Hacksaw Ridge." I don't think it'll win Best Picture, and I don't think it should. Yet, it's still a movie worth watching. The story, despite being about war, will lift your spirits. You're guaranteed to be amazed by Andrew Garfield's performance.