Directed by: Alex Garland
Written by: Alex Garland
Sometimes a writer and director combination works. When it does, it is magical, but when it doesn’t, you get a film like this. Unfortunately for Civil War, we have all the visuals with no context and devoid of emotion. Director Alex Garland is no stranger to good writing, as he displayed in 28 Days Later (2002) and Ex Machina (2015), yet it seems he took a neat idea and just fumbled the ball right from the first scene. This film aims to capture the chaos and tragedy of a nation divided from the perspectives of a war-weary press photographer, Lee Smith, played by a somber and introspective Kirsten Dunst. This film had potential…what it didn’t have was a second writer on the script.
Now, here comes the spoilers…
From the outset, the audience is thrust into a grim reality where violence and distrust are the norms. Set in the United States, the country grapples with a severe internal conflict after the president, played by Nick Offerman, forcefully extends his rule into a third term. This decision ignites fierce opposition, leading to widespread unrest and, ultimately, civil war. While the premise is promising, Garland’s execution falters due to a significant lack of context.
The film fails to provide enough background story for viewers to understand why the country has fallen, or why the president too such drastic measures. Was it a power grab? Was there a crisis that warranted such a move? The narrative is frustratingly thin on these critical details. Additionally, the portrayal of the propaganda used by the president to sway public opinion is presented superficially. We hear state-controlled media broadcasting patriotic messages and vilifying the dissenters and secessionists, but these scenes are fleeting and lack depth. There’s a missed opportunity to explore how propaganda can manipulate the beliefs of different segments of society, which could have enriched the story significantly.
As the film progresses, the depiction and separation of the two warring factions remain blurry. The media’s portrayal of the conflict is shown in broad strokes, but the underlying ideologies and motivations of each side are underdeveloped. This lack of nuance makes it hard for the audience to fully grasp why the stakes are so high. Moreover, Civil War seems oddly disconnected from the modern age. Despite clear indications that the internet exists, there is no mention of social media—a crucial oversight considering its impact on contemporary conflicts. This omission feels anachronistic and detracts from the film’s authenticity. The world’s reaction to the civil war and its ramifications on foreign relations are also ignored, leaving the narrative feeling insular and incomplete.
Garland’s decision to focus narrowly on the press photographer’s perspective provides an intimate look at the war’s impact on these individuals, but it also limits the film’s scope. The protagonist’s experiences, while harrowing, fail to convey the broader social and political dynamics at play. More flashbacks depicting the nation’s descent into war and her personal life before the conflict would have added much-needed emotional weight and context to her struggle.
The film’s emotional resonance is further hampered by its stoic tone. The director leans heavily on shocking scenes—burning buildings, abrupt shootings—to maintain attention. These moments feel like a crutch rather than a compelling storytelling device and does not make up for the lack of character development and emotional depth.
The only real standout performance is Wagner Moura’s performance as Joel, the journalist who starts the film excited to risk his life to interview the president. The film’s events impact his character’s journey the most, and his feelings about that interview become very sullen and deprived of enthusiasm.
In conclusion, Civil War is a film that will likely leave audiences divided. While it offers some striking visuals and a poignant look at war through the eyes of a press photographer, it ultimately falls short of delivering a fully realized narrative. The lack of context, underdeveloped characters, and failure to explore critical aspects and intricacies of modern conflict make this film mediocre at best. Alex Garland’s Civil War could have been a powerful exploration of a nation in turmoil, but instead, it feels like a missed opportunity.
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