R | 1h 49m | Dystopian Drama, Speculative Fiction, Action | 2024
After penning screenplays for “28 Days Later,” “Sunshine,” “Never Let Me Go,” and “Dredd,” former novelist Alex Garland wrote and directed his first feature, “Ex Machina,” one of the best science-fiction films ever made. This was followed by the almost-as-good “Annihilation” and then the supremely average “Men.”
This month saw the release of “Civil War,” easily the most mainstream-friendly movie of Mr. Garland’s career that, based on the trailer, looks like a 1990s action flick or “White House Down” and “Olympus Has Fallen,” both from 2013.
Truth be told, the “Civil War” trailer seems intentionally incomplete and somewhat misleading. Most trailers are too revealing and often contain too many plot spoilers; this might sound contradictory but, in this case, I thoroughly agree with this particular marketing decision.
The trailer offers a glimpse at some of the content but not nearly all of it, and what isn’t shown makes up the majority of the film’s whole. It’s not a deceptive bait-and-switch but more of a strategic cinematic tease.
Outside Opinion
Born and raised in England, Mr. Garland might not initially seem to be the best candidate to present speculative commentary on the future of a once-British-ruled colony, but in reality he is ideal for the gig.
For those expecting the movie to be decidedly pro-left or pro-right, you will be supremely disappointed. Mr. Garland doesn’t take political sides and operates here as a noncommitted observer. Some will find this to be terribly frustrating, while others will find it amazingly refreshing.
Acting as Mr. Garland’s on-screen stand-in is Kirsten Dunst as Lee, a veteran wartime photojournalist. At her side throughout is Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), a greenhorn photographer looking to make a name for herself, who mostly keeps her glowing admiration of Lee in check.
Combat Journalism
Shot in Atlanta and London, “Civil War” has close ties to “The Year of Living Dangerously,” “Salvador,” “Under Fire,” “Medium Cool,” and “Welcome to Sarajevo,” great movies about combat journalism. These are people who choose careers that require a large degree of bravery, dedication to one’s craft, and a junkie’s level of addiction to adrenaline.Bullets and bombs can’t read, and certainly won’t care if you’re wearing a neon vest with “press” printed on it. Although technically neutral, members of the press regularly find themselves in the crosshairs of angry people on both sides of a conflict looking to kill each other and who don’t care if the press gets in the way.
Quick Study
However, Jessie proves to be a quick study—so much so that she takes one too many chances and becomes somewhat brazen with her movements. Although 26 years old, Ms. Spaeny easily passes for the teenage Jessie (which also served her well as the title character in last year’s “Priscilla”), something made all the more convincing with wise costume and makeup choices.
After a cold opening wherein an unnamed president of the United States (Nick Offerman) spews some misinformation regarding a recent victory against the “secessionists,” Mr. Garland begins the journey in earnest in New York where a suicide bomber takes out a crowd of protesters, and almost Lee and Jessie.
We have an idea what side of the fight the bomber is on, which will become par for the course for the remainder of the film. This is Mr. Garland’s stock-in-trade: He presents situations and scenarios, and then lets the viewers sort it out for themselves.
Most of the action sequences hinted at in the trailer take place in the third act and are every bit as throttling, visceral, and violent as the final act in “Saving Private Ryan,” another “road trip” movie of sorts, in which the principal characters move from one scenario to the next, interacting with clusters of soldiers and civilians whose alliances aren’t always clear.
What Kind of Americans?
When told that they all are “Americans,” the combatant retorts with “What kind of Americans are you?” This is the central and driving force of the film, and the point (I think) Mr. Garland is trying to make. All native-born and legal immigrants living in the United States are “Americans,” yet we’ve never been further apart on ideological, economic, cultural, and moral issues.
The Civil War of the 19th century was simple by comparison: states’ rights, later muddied (in a good way) by the introduction of 13th Amendment. This hypothetical future war here, which is seeming more likely with each passing day, is probably something that can be avoided if current laws are actually enforced and upcoming elections are on the up and up.
The biggest danger facing us right now is complacency on one side and a complete lack of common sense on the other—oil and water to the nth degree. The Founding Fathers and Abraham Lincoln are simultaneously laughing at and crying for us right now, and if we don’t get our act together soon, this speculative fiction movie will become a “how-to” documentary.
