Hacksaw Ridge is a film about conflict and after a very public fall from grace, directing his first film in a decade, the subject is clearly something Mel Gibson has an understanding of.

Family, faith, politics are all under the microscope in the true story of World War II Army medic Desmond T. Doss, the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor. While it does tend to play to genre conventions for much of the first act, when the film arrives at the titular battleground, atop a 100-foot cliff on the Japanese island of Okinawa, the sheer relentlessness of war is presented in a gripping manner.

An unarmed man trying to survive while getting fellow troops to safety.  Through poignant moments of ambiguity, Gibson’s signature style never strays too far from the realistic depiction of war-as-hell, making Hacksaw Ridge a solid return to the big screen. 

SCOTT JACKSON Three and a half (3.5) stars

We have 3 double passes to give away courtesy of Hoyts Frankston.
Go to www.franklyfrankston.com.au and become a member to be in this draw and every draw we have! 

Last month’s winners were Caitrin O'Rourke, Natalie Kaye and Adrian Wieckowski.