Hacksaw Ridge Star Andrew Garfield defends controversial director Mel Gibson after having a positive experience on set. The 2016 World War II film stars Garfield as pacifist Army medic Desmond T. Doss, who became the first soldier to receive a Medal of Honor despite not firing his rifle. Hacksaw Ridgewhich was well received by critics and audiences, features Gibson in the director's chair years after the film star was widely criticized for an anti-Semitic slur caught on camera during a 2006 arrest.

During a recent interview with PeopleGarfield, who is Jewish, reflects on his experience filming Gibson Hacksaw Ridgeon the grounds that the character deserves to continue making films. Garfield reveals that before he accepted the role, he had “deep, important conversations” with Gibson, before praising the director's personal growth and advocating for people to be given a second chance. According to Garfield, the controversial director is a “really empathetic guy.” Check out Garfield’s full comment below:

“Actually, I learned a lot. I learned that people can heal. I learned that people can change, that people can get help. I learned that everyone deserves respect. And that people deserve a second chance, a third chance and a fourth chance. That none of us are infallible.

“He performed many miraculous healings on himself. And thank God. Because he is a great filmmaker and I think he deserves to make films. He deserves to tell stories because he has a very, very big, compassionate heart. He's the type of director who comes out from behind the monitors with moist eyes. He knew when it was right and he knew when it wasn't right. And I just really trusted him. And he's a soulful storyteller, so he can feel… He feels like he can't help but feel everything. He’s a really empathetic guy.”

What Gibson has on the horizon

Although Gibson remains a controversial figure for many, Since the success of , he has also worked relatively regularly in Hollywood Hacksaw RidgeHowever, mostly for smaller production companies. His 2006 incident – among other reported incidents and accusations of anti-Semitism, homophobia and racism – continues to hang over his career, but he has appeared in lower-budget films such as: B. played along Pulled over concrete (2018), Boss level (2020), Fatman (2020) and Father Stu (2022). He also had a leading role in John Wick Spin off The Continental (2023).

As for directing gigs, Gibson is expected to have releases Flight risk in January 2025, his first film since then Hacksaw Ridge. Gibson is now also preparing to direct The Passion of Christ 2a sequel to his 2004 box office hit, with potential for a third film. Gibson tried to get it too Deadly weapon 5 on the way, which would seemingly mark a major studio return for the actor.

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Gibson's career may have been derailed by his arrest in 2006, but he's definitely made a comeback in recent years. Garfield isn't the only actor to publicly support the controversial character, either Actors like Jodie Foster and Robert Downey Jr. also expressed similar sentiments.

How long should someone be “canceled”?

Society continues to navigate “cancel culture” and it remains a challenging arena in which to intervene. Gibson's comments during his arrest in 2006 were regrettable and unacceptable, and there have been claims that these comments were part of a broader trend for the actor in recent years. However, it is also important to give people space to develop and improve There remains a public point of contention over how long someone should be haunted by their past mistakes.

Gibson certainly has his defenders, but there are also those who will not be able to look past his past misdeeds. There's not really a right or wrong answer, and When it comes to Gibson and his films, a person's career today will vary significantly. For his part, however, it is clear that Garfield will move on from his experiences Hacksaw RidgeHe considers Gibson a changed man.

Source: People

Hacksaw Ridge is a historical war film based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of World War II who saved 75 men without firing or carrying a weapon. He was the only American soldier in World War II to fight on the front lines without a weapon, believing that while the war was justified, killing was wrong because of his upbringing.

Release date

November 4, 2016

Studio(s)

Lionsgate

Sales partner

Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment

writer

Robert Schenkkan, Andrew Knight

Pour

Sam Worthington, Rachel Griffiths, Richard Roxburgh, Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Matt Nable, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, Nathaniel Buzolic, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Corr

Duration

139 minutes

budget

40 million dollars

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