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
