Civil War Review
Alex Garland’s fourth film is his most audacious yet. His first three smalls were relatively small-budget sci-fi films that delve into horror. Now he was given a 50 million dollar budget and free range to make the film he wanted.
Civil War takes place in a world that appears to be our modern-day America. Except it is being run by a tyrannical fascist who has been in the office for three terms and a civil war uprising is well underway.
We follow four journalists as they make their way to the capital to interview the President. Along the way they come across different characters and increasingly dangerous situations, all in the name of getting the story.
Telling the story from the point of view of the journalists can lead many to feel like this film is empty. Journalists and photojournalists must remain unbiased in their job. In doing so Alex sacrifices taking a stance on anything.
Alex stated he wanted to make a film that would get the conversation started. He said America is becoming more and more separated so far that we do not want to talk to anyone who doesn’t see the way we do.
He is right to a degree, and this film will certainly lead to conversations. I just don’t think they’re the conversations he thinks or wanted because this film is politic-less. However, its lack of stance but visceral bravura filmmaking will lead to conversations about the quality of the film.
My wife and I saw the film very differently, leading to a discussion. The Big Picture podcast had an hour-long conversation with three different points of view. Because of that, this film is a success.
Our blockbusters have become empty—nothing to discuss as to what these films mean. Civil War will and has brought forth a lot of discourse, some good, some bad. But it’s wonderful to have a film that brings about this much discussion.
Alex also said he wanted to make an anti-war film like Elem Kilmov’s Come and See. However, Alex makes many stylistic choices that feel less like Come and See and more like Apocalypse Now. In many ways, this is a modern-day Apocalypse Now.
The scenes with incredible visuals pulsing with a song to get you enthralled with the film. In doing so were not horrified by what we are seeing but engrossed. Most war films are inherently anti-war films because of the horror they show.
But some are stylized in a way the horrors are palatable. It’s another thing that can be frustrating with this film. Again, what is Alex trying to say? War is bad? Not sure when your film looks this cool.
One thing that everyone should agree on is that Kirsten Dunst is incredible as a grizzled photojournalist. She says everything with her eyes, every horror her character has ever seen. There is a moment towards the end when they get close to the White House that I found haunting.
After things have gone very wrong, she lost a friend and colleague (The great Stephen McKinley Henderson who is also incredible in this film) in a harrowing scene. Cailee Spaney’s Jessie is a young photojournalist who idolizes Kirsten’s Lee.
In the storming of the White House, they almost switch roles. Lee has a spell of PTSD and is freaking out while Jessie becomes stronger/more callous. It’s a moment to show that you cannot do this job forever.
In addition, Cailee’s Jessie is in her reality. Kirsten’s Lee has seen many horrors, but they were always far away. Now she is in her home country seeing what she never would think to associate with America, American on American murder.
But for Jessie, this is her first “Job” This will be her normal, she might never know anything other than this, making her more desensitized to the intra-country violence. It’s a sad realization, every subsequent generation becomes more desensitized than the last.
Personally, I like the no politics/no stance. I think the film will age far better than something like The Hunt will—any allusion to Trump and this film ages like milk in 10 years. I was in the bag for this film from minute one.
Alex made an absorbing film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As long as you don’t expect to get any answers about how America got into the state it is in., or what side of the aisle Alex leans on politically.
4/5 Stars, I’ll be interested in seeing how this plays on a rewatch.
