"CIVIL WAR" - REVIEW
(Originally published on April 16, 2024)
CIVIL WAR is not what you think it is.
Yes, it is a cautionary tale in disaster/event movie clothing, but despite its nerve-wracking trailer—hell, its nerve-wracking Instagram ads—it is not a political film (the most political thing about it is the choice of some characters in a small town to simply not engage). It is not a glorification of heavy artillery, but a powerful example of what it can do to people, buildings and your eardrums. And blessedly, it is not a how-to manual for budding insurrectionists. It is less concerned with HOW the country let something like this happen and more concerned THAT the country let something like this happen.
The film rightly does not pick sides or really even explain the origin of the escalating conflict (a decision that will help the film age well), and that decision is grounded in making the main characters wartime journalists, whose job it is to chronicle the facts and remain impartial, no matter the hellscape.
And speaking of hellscape... while the film is not a parade of nonstop violence, there is a nonstop threat of violence, and when the violence erupts, it pulls no punches. It is relentless, brutal, extremely well-choreographed and filmed and, in the true spirit of the anti-war film that it truly is, utterly unappealing. The film never becomes THE PURGE, while at the same time recognizing the adrenaline rush that comes with the job, and the joys of successfully capturing impossible images of unspeakable horror and inhumanity “for the folks at home.”
While still brimming with his typically bleak intelligence, this is writer/director Alex Garland’s most accessible film and his most humane film. Even in his best previous work, Garland never gives into (or cops out, if you see it that way) some weird left turn. As a narrative, it is very satisfying, and he still finds the time for some strange MASH-like levity (there's a beautiful, semi-absurd scene in a clothing store), and some somber, inspired music selections.
The cast is pitch perfect. Who better to play a grizzled war photographer than the amazing Kirsten Dunst? She has basically been a movie star her whole entire life, and has eyes that have seen every kind of Hollywood (not that Hollywood should be compared to war, but there's a lived-in weariness behind her eyes that is so captivating). As her eager new protege, Cailee Spaeny absolutely sparkles. Wagner Moura provides the right amount of good humor as an adrenaline junkie newswriter, and the always-great Stephen McKinley Henderson gets a nice plumb supporting role (instead of his usual handful of scenes) as a seasoned New York Times journalist. We also get Jesse Plemons at his spacey/amorally terrifying best in the film’s most nerve-shredding scene, and Garland regular Sonoya Mizuno in a brief but always welcome turn.
CIVIL WAR is a conversation starter. It is challenging, overwhelming, harrowing, with just the hint of compassion peeking out from around the corner, probing into a nightmare vision of America that is straining to remember what compassion is, and what this country could be.
If you see it, see it on the biggest possible screen with the best possible sound for the full effect.
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Zach is a proud member of the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA). For more info about Zach, the organization, or to read other great reviews from other great Minnesota-based film critics, click here: https://mnfilmcriticalliance.wordpress.com/