MOVIE REVIEW: CIVIL WAR

 

In a dystopian future America, a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Director: Alex Garland

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offerman

Release Date: April 12, 2024

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated R for strong violent content, bloody/disturbing images, and language throughout

Runtime: 1h 49m

Review:

Alex Garland's Civil War is replete with stark visuals of a country tearing itself apart at the seams and strong performances from its cast but it’s surprisingly timid about engaging in its central idea.  Garland creates a series of tense and unsettling dystopian vignettes that are visually impactful and visceral echoing moments from the back half of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.  The script drops hints here and there about what led to the current situation our characters exist in but it’s frustratingly vague on causes or even details on how any of the warring factions function.  It ultimately leaves the entire story a rather toothless tour of speculative terror as nearly every character they encounter is little more than nebulous ciphers with little in the way of characterization.  The central characters are equally one note but the cast is strong enough to make it easy to overlook the scripts fallings.  Kirsten Dunst is solid as the world weary photojournalist who gains a protégé in the form of fresh faced Cailee Spaeny who looks even younger here than she did in last year's Priscilla.  Dunst nails the thousand-yard stare her character carries throughout as she does her best to provide tangible depth to the role that's missing from the script.  Spaeny, likewise, does the best she can with her underwritten role and her interactions with Dunst carry an air of authenticity in spite of how clichéd they are.  Wagner Moura is given more latitude to have fun as a thrill seeking journalist who's paired with Dunst's character for some undisclosed reason since the film never bothers to explain their connection.  Stephen McKinley Henderson serves as the elder of the group and he does fine work in a role he could probably play in his sleep.  Together they manage to elevate the material they're given it leaves you wondering why Garland didn't create something closer to Oliver Stone's Salvador if he wasn't going to thoughtfully engage in the film's central idea.  Civil War ultimately lacks the resonance to deliver the sort of gut punch it aspires to achieve.

C

MOVIE REVIEW: MEN

 

In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to find a place to heal. However, someone or something from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her. What begins as simmering dread soon becomes a fully formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears.

Director: Alex Garland

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Rory Kinnear, Paapa Essiedu, Gayle Rankin

Release Date: May 20, 2022

Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

Rated R for disturbing and violent content, graphic nudity, grisly images and language.

Runtime: 1h 40m

Review:

Alex Garland's third film, Men, is a stylish fever dream that takes broad strokes at it central theme.  The film establishes an unsettling atmosphere immediately juxtaposed with the lush beauty of the English countryside.  Flashbacks establish the central character's state of mind while dealing with increasingly nightmarish situation.  Each scene is a meticulously constructed and packed with subtle and overt thematic overtones as the tension increases as the film moves on.  Jessie Buckley carries the film with ease as the central woman in a vortex of menacing masculinity.  The script doesn't ask much from Buckley outside of being confused and terrified but she adds layers to the character that isn't on the page.  Its a fascinating performance that puts you in the character's skin and makes you feel every bit of terror as the film becomes increasingly disturbing and abstract.  Veteran British actor, Rory Kinnear is tasked with playing nearly every other character onscreen.  It's a dauting, disjointing task but Kinnear's talents are up to the task with each character feeling like a singular representation of masculinity.  Garland clearly has something to say and for the most part he accomplishes it even if the actual story is decidedly simplistic while he take big swing at bigger idea instead of character depth.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: ANNIHILATION

Based on Jeff VanderMeer’s best-selling Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Isaac. It was written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, 28 Days Later).

Director: Alex Garland

Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Isaac

Release Date: Feb 22, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated R for violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality

Runtime:  1 Hr 55 min

Review:

Annihilation, Alex Garland’s 2^nd directorial feature, is a lush, dense science fiction film that’s recalls Tarkovsky's Solaris, Kubrick’s 2001 mixed with a splash of Alien.  On its most basis level, it’s a fascinating decent into sci-fi madness.  Garland maintains a steady sense of uneasiness throughout, blending beautiful visuals with brutal and visceral moments straight out of classic creature features.  The flashbacks that pepper the film are a strong clue that Garland is after something deeper and more meaningful than a straight up science fiction film.  

Annihilation is the type of film that requires contemplation afterwards because it does not present you with easy answers.  Once you get past the trippy visuals, especially during the final act, and start dissecting what you’ve seen there’s plenty to think about and appreciate, similar to Denis Villeneuve’s The Arrival.  If there is a small draw back it’s that the characters are types and never overly developed outside of basic features and personality traits.  Still, the cast deliver strong performances across the board.  Natalie Portman is solid in the lead role, maintaining a steady sense of bewildered wonder and dogged determination. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Isaac all turn in workman like performances servicing the film more than themselves.  Gina Rodriguez does leave a strong impression playing against type, at least to anyone familiar with her TV work, as the group’s tough girl.  As a whole, Annihilation should sate science fiction fans hunger for multi layered genre fare.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: EX MACHINA

Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller, EX MACHINA. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company’s brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test—charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated––and more deceptive––than the two men could have imagined.

Director: Alex Garland

Cast: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Corey Johnson

Release Date: Apr 10, 2015

Rated R for Graphic Nudity, Language, Sexual References and Some Violence Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Alex Garland’s directorial debut is one of the smartest and sleekiest sci-fi films in recent memory.  Garland’s film is beautifully shot, delivering some stunning imagery throughout.  Thematically, it covers some well worn sci-fi tropes but it does it in a wonderfully engaging manner that rarely bores.  The actors and characters are all fascinating throughout with each actor delivering some multifaceted performances.  Oscar Isaac is quickly becoming a personal favorite of mine and he delivers as the reclusive tech genius.   Alicia Vikander is just mesmerizing as Ava.  The performance is measured and subtle, rarely overselling any moments but thoroughly engaging.  Domhnall Gleeson is solid but sadly he’s overshadowed by Vikander and Isaac.  The film is provocative and thoughtful until the final act where things devolve and starts to feel a bit too paint by the numbers.  Thankfully, Ex Machina is impressive enough to overcome that small misstep and make a big splash for Alex Garland.

A