Saw Civil War last night and woof, what a film!
In Civil War, we follow a group of photo-journalists as they trek across a war-torn US to interview the President (Nick Offerman). Leigh (Kirsten Dunst) is a hardened war photographer, Joel (Wagner Moura) is her friend and colleague who works for Reuters, Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) is an aging but wise journalist, and Jesse (Cailee Spaeny) is a young photo-journalist who idolizes Leigh.
It doesn’t take long for Jesse and Leigh to form a bond, and Leigh quietly makes it her mission to protect and watch out for Jesse, no matter the cost. As the film progresses, we watch Leigh’s tough-as-nails exterior begin to crumble. Meanwhile, Jesse slowly grows more reckless and jaded. The character arcs for these two are incredible and gripping. Kirstin Dunst plays stoic very well. Leigh presents herself as emotionless, but we see how the events she witnesses and lives through deeply effect and traumatize her.
Cailee Spaeny shines as Jesse, a beautiful young girl who tags along with Leigh and “friends”, hoping she can learn a thing or two and catch some killer pics along the way. She starts out green-behind-the-ears. What she sees shakes her up, but as the gang treks onwards to D.C., she begins to change. Spaeny nails her role with impressive ease.
Wagner Moura (who previously voiced The Wolf/Death in Puss in Boots: the Last Wish) is phenomenal as the loose, care-free Joel, who starts out excited and thrilled about the civil war raging across the U.S. Naturally, his attitude will change as the stakes become a bit too personal for him. Stephen McKinley Henderson is one of the great character actors of our time, and he is incredibly lovable as Sammy, the softy of the group. He's very experienced, and his time on-the-job has taught him invaluable lessons he doesn't hesitate to share with others.
Civil War gives audiences a peek into the lives of war-time photo-journalists, what they have to do, and what they have to turn themselves into in order to do their jobs properly/effectively. It’s pretty disturbing, as our characters can appear emotionless, insensitive, careless, and incautious at times. They don’t think when they snap their pics, but it’s done so that those viewing their snapshots can. Ultimately, you’ll find yourself empathizing with and caring for our roving group of photo-journalists by the end.
When Civil War starts, the U.S. has already fallen. A corrupt President has disbanded the FBI, authorized the use of air strikes against American civilians (presumably protesters), and is now in his third-term (He’s essentially Trump without Trump’s mannerisms and way of speaking). Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming, Washington (State), Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota have seceded from the Union.
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana have formed the Florida Alliance. Texas and California have formed the Western Forces. Utah, Wyoming, Washington (State), Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota have formed The New People’s Army. The remaining states are loyal to the former U.S./ The Govt. . They are all fighting each other non-stop.
Civil War feels real to how a Civil War in the U.S. might play out. Most have forgotten who they are fighting and why. The war has turned into a game of: “There’s people over there trying to kill us. We have to kill them first.” The cinematography by Rob Hardy is outstanding. It’s often haunting, always gorgeous. The production design by Caty Maxey is superb.
The U.S. is almost unrecognizable, having been turned into a dystopian nightmare. Some buildings burn, others crumble. Forests blaze long into the night, shopping malls stand desolate, abandoned cars litter/clog the highway, crashed helicopters adorn parking lots, artillery fire lights up the night sky, and football stadiums have been turned into shelters for the less-fortunate. Civil War is A24’s most expensive film to date, costing the studio $50 million dollars to produce. You can tell, as the scope of the film is breath-taking.
Alex Garland directs and writes. His direction is expertly done as usual, and the screenplay is strong. Garland is mostly known for his sci-fi sensibilities. With Civil War, he takes a more grounded, realistic approach towards his subject matter. In other hands, Civil War could be big and bombastic, but for the most part it’s not. It often feels more intimate and personal despite the film’s large canvas.
Civil War does play host to some action, but this is not an action film. It’s not necessarily a fun watch as the proceedings are often tense, gripping, horrifying, disturbing, and deeply affecting. The Winter Wonderland scene, Jesse Plemons’ scene, and the final 20 minutes or so are bound to go down as some of the most memorable cinematic moments of 2024.
Civil War comments on the divided nation we currently find ourselves in, and provides a stark warning for the path we might be headed down in the near future (it also doesn’t take sides). With expert direction, a strong screenplay, superb acting, and stunning production design and cinematography, Civil War firmly establishes itself as one of the best films of 2024. It will make you feel like you’ve been through a war. Expect this one to linger long after the screen fades to black.
5 STARS