Civil War Movie Review: Set in a dystopian United States of America, filmmaker Alex Garland takes us through a fictional American war that has torn the country apart, and travelling through states is a life-threatening decision. In the war-struck country, two war journalists — war photojournalist Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and reporter Joel (Wagner Moura) — decide to travel from New York to Washington DC, to interview the President who failed to save the country from the devastating state of affairs.
They get unexpected company in the form of Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), a veteran journalist for The New York Times, who is close to Lee, and an aspiring war photojournalist named Jessie Cullen (Cailee Spaeny). They board their car and head off for a thrilling journey to Washington DC. On the way, they come across cities that have been wiped out, towns that have chosen not to turn a blind eye to the war, and even come under attack. However, the reality of the war hits them when Jessie gets caught by a militia group who have been executing civilians and mass burying bodies.
After escaping the traumatic experience, a shift in approach to the war becomes evident in Jessie and Lee. While Lee goes from being a strong, fierce, and fearless photojournalist to a grief-struck person, Jessie becomes more confident in her craft. The events snowball into shocking and dark events.
Alex Garland has delicately but brilliantly written Civil War, making the script the true hero of the film. He blurs the lines between dystopia and reality in the final few scenes that truly jolts you. The filmmaker carefully peels the onion, taking the audience through not just the fictional war between the citizens but also through the inner battles of Lee and Jessie. The film swiftly turns the tables between them, showing them feeling all kinds of emotions before the surprising end. Garland has you invested in both the characters to the extent that you begin to question what can pass off as a justified action.
Taking a long shot here when I say this that Garland plays with the audience, keeping them wondering who the actual villain is — the professions and the actions the characters in the film have chosen or the cameras in their hands. Garland’s writing is supported phenomenally by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Stephen McKinley Henderson.
Kirsten and Cailee make full use of their characters’ arcs in the film to deliver memorable performances. Kirsten’s performance felt a tad more personal. The actress plays a character who has lost her will to comment on her country’s heartbreaking situation and is out there to just do her job — take pictures that would become headlines. The lifelessness in her eyes despite struggling with trauma is haunting.
On the other hand, Cailee’s best performance emerges in her final scenes of the film. She not only supports Kirsten well but also doubles up as one of the strong shoulders that keeps the film going. Wagner steals the show in several places. There is a scene that features him screaming hysterically but the sounds of the war drown his cry out is devasting to watch.
Kudos to musicians Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow for not only the said scene but also the sounds in the film. Garland also shows his impressive directional skills in scenes that involve massacres. One of the best scenes in the film involves Jessie’s capture and the climax scene. Garland is well supported by cinematographer Rob Hardy. Hardy’s bigger picture shots leave a lasting impact on the film. Civil War also excels on the editing front. Jake Roberts keeps the film’s pace even and tight, packing in enough to move the viewers in less than two hours.
Although Civil War drives closely on the borders of reality, the film maintains that it is a fictional tale. But regardless of which side it pushes you, I’d recommend you watch Civil War. It is a heartbreaking yet great watch.
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