Civil War (Mini-Review)

Civil War is Alex Garland's latest film. The United States of America (USA) is now in the throes of a Civil War with a fascist president that makes sure the country can never heal. Lee Miller and Joel, journalists, are determined to get an interview with the president. Jesse and Sammy join them on their journey through the broken country. Civil War was released in 2024. It was directed by Alex Garland. It stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny.

At the start of the credits a photograph develops. There are no other mid or post credits.

I had thought that this movie would explore the ideologies that helped turn the USA into a dystopian nightmare. However, what eventually turned the country into such a dreadful landscape is merely hinted at. But nothing is clearly spelled out. My take is that the Republican Party, with their cult-like devotion to Donald Trump, eventually opened a wound that gets out of control. The movie paints a hopeful picture with the Western Front (basically California and Texas) to show that we can come together enough to fight a dictator. Though I think some ideologies can't interact peacefully with another. No matter the situation.

Outside of a few brief scenes, the movie is depressing. It's worse as it speaks to my fear of where my country might be going. It's not like politicians never talk about a civil war happening again. Some even seem gleeful. So the bleakness was really heightened for me. This movie and The Forever Purge (2021) tackle a possible civil war in two different ways. This movie looks at the painful repercussions and The Forever Purge focuses on the start of a broken country.

The protagonists are journalists with a focus on war photography. Jesse is the newcomer and you see how she is brutally changed throughout the movie. She goes from being easily frightened to taking pictures of death like it's nothing. Lee Miller has a heart of stone and it doesn't seem like anything can shake her. That is until near the end of the movie when she finally breaks down. Joel keeps a happy spirit throughout the majority of the movie. Sammy is the old veteran who has wise words for everyone.

One silly thing in the movie is the Florida Alliance. Someone who doesn't live in the South or Florida might not find anything off about this. The alliance is in the South and Florida is too. Or...that's what it looks like to an outside. It is very hard to explain but I'll try to. I have lived in Florida all of my life and my state isn't in the South. Sure its geographical location would seem to contradict that statement. Yet to everyone living here this state exists in the USA but not the South.

I would recommend Civil War to those in need of a good and depressing action movie. I would also recommend Civil War to fans of Alex Garland.