Mel Gibson says directing is "torture" for him but he "loves it".

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

The 61-year-old star may have won a Best Director Oscar for his 13th Century epic 'Braveheart' - which also was named Best Picture at the 1996 Academy Awards - but he admits he doesn't always enjoy being behind the camera because of the frustrations that go with being the chief decision maker.

Gibson - who has returned to the directors' chair for World War II biographical drama 'Hacksaw Ridge' some 10 years after he helmed 'Apocalypto' - said: "I love it. It's torture. But I love it. The thousand questions a day. The angst. There's a lot of traffic cop stuff going on, 'Ah put that over there, bring this through!' You get to work with amazingly gifted people and you have the smorgasbord of choices. Your own, plus everyone else's."

The film, written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight, tells the story of American Army medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who served during the Battle of Okinawa as a conscientious objector he refused to take up arms and instead focused on saving the lives of his wounded fellow soldiers.

His actions made him the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.

As with any war film, blood and gore is a given, but Gibson admits it was "hard" deciding how much blood and guts to show.

In an interview with the Metro newspaper, he explained: "It was hard. I don't think it was overindulgent but I think you have to have an appreciation of the hellishness and the horror of war - and what it takes to rise above that, to understand what someone's spirit can propel them to do."

'Hacksaw Ridge' has been universally praised by critics and has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Gibson and Best Actor for Garfield.

Despite the acclaim, Gibson insists he doesn't pay any attention to reviews.

He shared: "Yes I did (learn to ignore the critics) because it's kind of crazy. You go from accolades to damnation on the same piece of work. And what's the difference? Was the popcorn tainted on that showing? I don't know. You're not going to please everybody, so you're just going to have to please yourself and hope other people will relate to it the same way you do."

Tagged in