I knew Civil War (now airing on HBO/Max) was going to be good when for a minute or so you see an explosion in the distance and later hear a sound wave. [Mild spoilers may follow.] Soon after, we meet war reporter Lee (Kirsten Dunst in a stellar performance). I thought, “You look like Lee Miller,” and seconds later, the word is thrown out. In the next photo, Lee is in the bathtub—a clear sign that she is in the hands of a master. It is not without import that Lee Miller photographed Dachau more or less clearly he was a pioneer of the surreal. Both will appear again in Civil War.
In a scene where reporters need to buy gas, they offer $300. The armed employee scoffs, “$300 will get you a ham sandwich.” “300 Canadian dollars,” comes the reply, telling you all you need to know about the state of the economy.
Civil War it was written and directed by Alex Garland, who also acted Annihilation, Ex Machinaand subordinates Dredd (2012 reboot not the Stallone movie). Many viewers expected Civil War to introduce some rhetoric about red/blue world politics, but it doesn’t. Tyler comments astutely on hidden politics (and reviews the movie here).
MThere was a lot of interest in the fact that the film portrays war—a war that is hell but also amazing. The photojournalists at the heart of the story justify their actions as serving a higher purpose, but in reality, they are addicted to adrenaline. Civil War share themes Nightcrawler. These journalists also collaborate more than they think with sick people who love war because it gives them the opportunity to torture and kill.
A great scene in the climax takes on the “when one dies, another is born” trope. The lead actor starts to hear and acquire morals, only to be killed for them, while the student simultaneously discards his own, emerging as a new, virtuous hero. And it’s all caught on film. Karma is a dog. The change isn’t surprising considering the sensibility of the setup but it’s handled realistically and gracefully.
Recommended, given the clear boundaries around violence and sensitive themes.
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