Will Hacksaw Ridge be Enough to Redeem Mel Gibson?

A complete list of the offensive and controversial remarks made by actor and director Mel Gibson would undoubtedly take up several posts, not to mention containing more censor stars than the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Racist, anti-Semitic and downright nasty comments have been captured on film and tape, creating an inescapable offensive against any apologies or reconciliations the star may try to make.

From a stable family life and successful career which included the Mad Max trilogy and Oscar-winning Braveheart, Gibson's downfall took several years of substance abuse and religious tirades to deteriorate both his personal life and film career. Disgraced, and with the abuse of his partner caught on tape, not even the success of The Passion of the Christ could redeem him. A four-year break and the lacklustre reception of thriller Edge of Darkness did little to raise his stature, despite journalist Alison Weiner calling for the end of his "blacklisting" by Hollywood execs.

However, a new film, directed by Gibson, has been quietly gaining strong reviews and plenty of interest, raising the question of whether Gibson can finally be redeemed. Hollywood second chances have been popular in the last few years, with the flagging reputations of Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Affleck both enjoying astronomical comebacks with the help of rehabilitation and superhero blockbusters. Hacksaw Ridge, as well as being tipped for an excellent awards season, is also predicted to do the same for its director. Grisly and harrowing, it tells the story of a World War II Pacifist who attempts to navigate the conflict without harming anyone. While perhaps not suggesting that Gibson is a reformed man apologetic for his past actions, it certainly proves that he is still a striking director or performance, capable of that difficult feat of making films which will please both audiences, critics and Hollywood bosses alike. That will certainly be enough for the money-driven, business minds of the film industry. But will it enough for disillusioned fans and cynical critics? Only time will tell.