Civil War: A Review

Few modern storytellers weave narratives as gripping and thought-provoking as Alex Garland. Moreover, with his latest offering, “Civil War,” he thrusts audiences into a near-future America gripped by turmoil and unrest. He paints a picture of a nation torn asunder by conflict, where the violence and horror of war reverberate through the streets of major cities, suburbs, and small towns.

War-Torn America

In “Civil War,” the narrative begins in New York City, which suffers from basic shortages. Desperate, angry residents rely on trucked-in water, and electricity remains unreliable. Despite the President’s boasts of a great victory by the remaining United States over the secessionist “Western Forces” of California and Texas, talk circulates about a final assault on Washington, D.C. A group of war journalists thus plan to navigate the war-torn eastern United States to cover the story in the capital.

“Family Trip” to Hell

Kirsten Dunst portrays Lee, a jaded war photographer determined to document the war’s end and the fall of D.C. Additionally, Lee joins forces with Joel, portrayed by Wagner Moura, an adrenaline-fueled reporter aiming to interview the President before his overthrow. Reluctantly, they agree to allow aged writer Sammy, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson, to accompany them as far as Charlottesville, where he can cover the frontline fighting. Just before departure, young and naive Jesse, portrayed by Cailee Spaeny, joins at Joel’s invitation. However, she, an aspiring photojournalist, incites Lee’s frustration with her hero worship and inexperience. With three generations of reporters in their truck, a macabre “family trip” through the Second American Civil War begins.

Freedom vs. Tyranny

In “Civil War,” Alex Garland challenges viewers by removing political context from the story. The audience encounters only the who of the conflict and some clues about the why. We learn that the President, portrayed by Nick Offerman, serves an unconstitutional third term, disbands the FBI, and orders the bombing of American civilians. Presumably, these actions lead to the dissolution of the Union. By eschewing explicit political context, Garland invites viewers to engage more deeply with the film, prompting them to reconsider the nature of violence, ideology, and authority in our divided political moment, free from preconceptions and biases.

Wars are Crimes

Throughout the film, Garland also incorporates graphic violence and torture, not as a gratuitous spectacle, but as a visceral reminder of the human cost of conflict. By depicting the brutal realities of war in unflinching detail, the film aims to overcome the desensitization that has become all too common in American audiences. Through scenes of intense violence and brutality, the film compels viewers to confront the horrors of war in all their harrowing realities, challenging them to bear witness to the human toll of violence and oppression. In doing so, “Civil War” delivers a powerful indictment of the dehumanizing effects of war, urging audiences never to lose sight of the humanity at the heart of every conflict, regardless of their stance on taking up arms against their political enemies.

Ultimately, Alex Garland’s “Civil War” thoughtfully explores how extreme political divisions can accelerate America’s descent into chaos. By depicting Americans as active participants in a war zone rather than distant observers, the film compels viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about our society. Through portraying emotional detachment and the numbing effect of constant exposure to violence, “Civil War” poignantly reminds us of the necessity for empathy and understanding in a nation rife with division. Reflecting on the significance of “Civil War,” we’re prompted to acknowledge the cinema’s power to provoke thought and inspire change in our present day.

“Civil War” is currently streaming on Max.