Gareth on Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR

Gareth Higgins on CIVIL WAR

Civil War really does say something meaningful about the current moment. Written and directed by Alex Garland, it’s set toward the end of a terrible conflict in a near-future USA, where the President (Nick Offerman) has bombed US citizens, disbanded the FBI, and appropriated a third term for himself. Key characters are photojournalists: Lee - distinguished and battle-weary (Kirsten Dunst [above], possessing the movie); Sammy, a down to earth veteran (the marvelous Stephen McKinley Henderson), Joel, a zealous devil-may-care blurring the distinction between reporter and combatant (Wagner Moura), and Jessie, a novice seeking mentoring and validation from elders but with little idea of the risks she’s taking (Cailee Spaeny). Up the road they go, on the way to Washington, DC, where they hope to interview the President; if they don’t get killed first.