Civil War

 

“What kind of American are you?”

Provocative, intense and harrowing, Civil War is an enthralling depiction of wartime journalism against the backdrop of a startling political prophecy that is uncomfortable, disturbing and captivating, with confronting visuals, driven performances, and searing sequences that serve as a cautionary tale that will hopefully help us avert disaster. 

Discussion Points:

Garland has delivered a haunting and heartstopping film that is filled with some insanely tense moments, and provocative visuals that scarily don’t feel too far removed from a possible reality. However, as stark as this political prophecy may be, Garland is far more concerned with showing us the journalistic endeavours of those covering the conflict, rather than detailing the events that have led up to the titular civil war. Subtext is woven through, but we aren’t given much of a background to the factions. Instead we see events through the journalistic eyes of the press photographers covering the carnage. Callous and hardened by the atrocities they have witnessed, Kirsten Dunst gives and incredible performance, alongside a charismatic Wagner Moura. Stephen McKinley Henderson is utilised phenomenally as the guiding wisdom to the group, to counterbalance the youthful idealism of Cailee Spaeny, who serves as an audience surrogate, allowing us to see the harsh reality and dire need for war journalists to capture the images that become seared in cultural consciousness. And Garland truly crafts some stunning, impactful and ominous visuals of war, with one sequence involving Jesse Plemons being truly terrifying. It’s a film built upon the value of the visual, and Garland excels as a director here. Plus the films soundscape is so perfectly rendered. Tense silences shattered by concussive bullets. A truly stunning film to experience in IMAX. Frequently heart stopping, and politically provocative, Garland wisely avoids too much culture war, and instead turns his lens to the lens of those who capture these conflicts.