Mel Gibson very much in his comfort zone - blood, guts and God. It's an amazing true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who still wanted to serve on the front line and wound up winning the Medal of Honor.
Andrew Garfield is ideal casting as Doss - reminds me of a young Anthony Perkins, a cracker, full of idealism with a touch of fanaticism, but likeable. The film makes the smart decision of letting us spend time with Doss and his fellow soldiers - the action is delayed until the last half.
Teresa Palmer has perfect 1940s looks. Rachel Griffiths and Hugo Weaver are surprisingly poor as Doss' parents and I have to admit I never got used to Vince Vaughan as the sergeant - nothing wrong with his performance it was just weird. Fine work from Sam Worthington and Luke Bracey (playing a bit of a bastard - he's more comfortably cast in such roles), and the familiar faces who pop up as soldiers such as Ryan Corr.
Occasionally the script fell into World War Two movie cliches - such as a GI introducing Doss to characters ("this guy, he's Smitty, he XYZ") and every now and then it felt weird - would the ridge be SO isolated down bottom? But the power of the story and the good moments carry you through and I was very moved.
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