Civil War

America is in the violent throes of a civil war. As the Western Forces of Texas and California make a final push into Washington D.C. to depose the President (Nick Offerman) a group of journalists race against time to travel from New York to the capital to get the only interview that matters right now. 

Our group of protagonists includes veteran war photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst), thrill seeking writer Joel (Wagner Moura), a wet behind the ears photographer Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) and old hand Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson). The characters themselves are archetypes. Lee and Jessie are at the opposite end of the same career path, one has become jaded and has lost faith in her calling whilst the other thinks about nothing but the possibilities in front of her. Sammy is here to bestow wisdom onto his fellow journalists of what is important. Whilst Joel pushes them into situations that will get the sort of stories that they want to capture. 

The real focus of the story is not necessarily these characters and their personal journey as it is the concepts the film represent. 

A free press that can document events is vital. What does it take to do that job? What lengths must they go to and what perils do they face? What emotional toll does it take in order to remain truly neutral and document events whilst challenging for answers? What physical threats will you face from those who want to withhold the truth of their actions? 

What does it mean to live through war? Can you avoid it and pretend it is not there? Which side do you take and does that even matter when self preservation is all that matters? The impacts can be seen in every shot and no punches are pulled in how horrific they can be. 

There have been a huge amount of complaints that the film is not political enough but this seems beside the point it is trying to make. We are given the information to understand what resulted in the conflict. The fact that those actions could be taken by any party and trigger a war is all that is needed to explore the impacts of it and the need for it to be documented so that people are able to decide for themselves. 

Featuring phenomenal performances from its cast, the stand outs being Dunst and Spaeny. It also features beautiful photography befitting a film whose main characters are photojournalists. And most spectacularly it is a heart stopping action film as it follows the final push into Washington D.C. 

It also features what will probably be one of the most tense scenes you will ever watch on film when the group encounter a soldier played by Jesse Plemons. An actor who always seems to deliver no matter how small his role might be. 

I think writer/director Alex Garland has created another spectacular movie to go alongside his already spectacular body of work. I would put this alongside my other favourites of his that include Ex Machina, Annihilation and Devs (his television show that also starred Nick Offerman, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson). 

An absolute masterclass. 

If you want to read more about Devs you can do so here – 2020 – Year in Review – Television