Hacksaw Ridge, an Aussie-made film about a US conscientious objector who repeatedly risked his life to save 75 men, is already being tipped for Oscar glory.
Andrew Garfield stars as Desmond Doss, who refused to carry a weapon but won America’s highest honour for his bravery in the bloody WWII battle of Okinawa. Australia’s Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths star as Doss’s parents, Sam Worthington plays Doss’s commander, Captain Glover. Richard Roxburgh, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey and Vince Vaughn also feature.
The $200 prize of Icon DVDs and a double pass to see Hacksaw Ridge, now showing in cinemas around the country, was won by Patrick Staveley, who correctly named the honour awarded to Desmond Doss for his bravery as the Medal of Honor.
The film, much of it shot in Western Sydney, marks a turnaround for the Oscar-winning action star turned director Mel Gibson, who fell out of favour in Hollywood after a drunken outburst 10 years ago. Gibson and his cast won a 10-minute standing ovation when Hacksaw Ridge premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, with critics saying Gibson (who has Oscars for Braveheart and Apocalypto) is back to his best form.
At the festival Garfield told media: “The beautiful thing about Desmond Doss is that he was a very simple man, in the sense that he had a knowing. He had a knowing in his heart, in the core of his being, that he was not supposed to take another man’s life.”
In the film, Doss tells dubious officers “While everybody else is taking life, I’m going to be saving it.” He endured assaults, insults and distrust from his fellow soldiers until battle began and gave him a chance to demonstrate his courage and belief.
To mark the release of Hacksaw Ridge on November 3, The Newsroom is giving away a prize pack of one double pass to the show, valid in cinemas around Australia, and an “indomitable spirit” DVD package including 10 DVDs celebrating human resilience and determination.
The Hacksaw Ridge prize pack, supplied by Icon Film Distribution and valued at $200, includes 12 Years A Slave, Apocalypto, Love & Mercy, The World’s Fastest Indian, The Man Who Knew Infinity, Rabbit Proof Fence, We Were Soldiers, Last Cab To Darwin, Slumdog Millionaire & The Iron Lady, plus that in-season double pass to see Hacksaw Ridge in a cinema near you. This competition is open to all Macleay students and readers of The Newsroom website.
To enter the draw name the medal Desmond Doss won for his exceptional bravery in battle. Email your answer in the subject line of an email to tkleu@macleay.edu.au by midnight on November 2. The winner will be announced on November 3, the day Hacksaw Ridge opens in cinemas around Australia. – The Newsroom Team
Video and top image are promotional material distributed by Icon Film Distribution.
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