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DVD/DOWNLOAD of THE Week
Hacksaw Ridge Cert 15, 139 mins
No available on Amazon Video/bt TV Store/itunes/ Sky Store/talktalk TV Store and other download and streaming services. Also available on DVD £19.99 and Blu-ray £24.99
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Nathaniel Buzolic
Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) is born and raised with his brother Hal (Nathaniel Buzolic) in Lynchburg, Virginia against the picturesque backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His father Tom (Hugo Weaving) is an emotionally scarred veteran of the First World War and his mother Bertha (Rachel Griffiths) educates her brood using the Bible. At an early age, Desmond takes up a vow of pacifism, even when he enrols in the US Army. He intends to follow the lead of his nurse girlfriend, Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer), and serve as a medic. However, Desmond is ushered into combat training under no-nonsense Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn) and instantly makes enemies of the rest of the squad, especially bullying ringleader Smitty Ryker (Luke Bracey), by refusing to carry arms. Hacksaw Ridge is a riveting wartime drama based on the true story of the first conscientious objector to receive America’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Mel Gibson directs with verve, orchestrating hellish battle scenes. Aerial bombardments scythe through flesh, ripping limbs from torsos, or exploding craniums as a well-targeted bullet careens through an eye socket.
The senseless slaughter of young men in the prime of their lives is heartbreaking. Garfield delivers a mesmerising lead performance, as a gentle and caring man who yearns to serve the country he loves, but isn’t willing to abandon his moral compass in the name of patriotism.
In an era when principles are repeatedly compromised for the sake of selfish gain, one man’s inspirational journey of righteous self-sacrifice is an invigorating tonic.