FilmSnobReviews

Title: Civil War
MPA Rating: R
Director: Alex Garland
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

What It Is: In the near future the United States is divided, quite literally. Journalists travel across the now war torn United States to get the Washington D.C. in order to speak with the reason for this whole debacle…the President of the United States. This group of journalists includes veteran war photographer Lee (Dunst), Newsman Joel (Moura) and rookie Jessie (Spaeny). This ragtag group must navigate through dangerous situations. Will they make it or will the trek prove too perilous.

What We Think: Alex Garland is a damn genius. The perspective he gives us with this isn’t whatever you would assume by watching the trailer. This isn’t some grand indignation of the alt-right or the far-left. What this is is a warning. That another Civil War could have lasting, detrimental affects on the lives of every single solitary regular American. He isn’t subtle in the delivery and yet he never beats the audience over the head with his point. A signature of Garlands direction. Kirsten Dunst is great but Cailee Spaeny, as she always does, steal the show. Even if the most frightening moments are from Dunst’s husband Jesse Plemons as an unhinged armed crazy. Stephen McKinley Henderson is always a treat to see.

Our Grade: A, Man. I knew this was going to be good but it was even more than that. This was great. A24 is on a hot streak. This is another masterpiece in their canon and quite frankly the way this story is told it might be the nest we’ve seen from Garland as a writer. Though Ex Machina is one of the greatest directorial debuts of the 21st century. It’s only his latest Men that has seen a single chink in his unflinching directorial armor. An incredible piece of cinema. One that’ll leave you breathless and exhausted. Phenomenal.