The war film is one of the few genres where modern Hollywood tolerates overt displays of Christian faith. But even here, it is typically a secondary concern, coloring for side characters (Shia Labeouf’s evangelical tank operator in
Fury
, for example). Rarely is it the main thematic event. Mel Gibson, at his countercultural best, defied this convention in
Hacksaw Ridge
(2016), a true story turned into a remarkable war film that earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Director for Gibson and Best Actor for his lead, Andrew Garfield. With Memorial Day front of mind for many of us,
Hacksaw Ridge
is worth revisiting for its portrayal of unusual courage—the courage
not
to kill—and of how faith need not negate one’s patriotism.