I knew Civil War (now streaming on HBO/Max) was going to be good when just a minute or so in you see an explosion in the distance and only later do you hear the sound wave. [Mild spoilers may follow.] Shortly after, we meet war journalist Lee (Kirsten Dunst in a standout performance). I thought, “She looks like Lee Miller,” and seconds later, the name is dropped. In the next shot, Lee is in a bathtub—a clear sign you’re in the hands of a master. It is not without import that Lee Miller photographed Dachau or a little less obviously that she was a pioneer of the surreal. Both will reappear in Civil War.
In a scene where the journalists need to buy gas, they offer $300. The armed attendant scoffs, “$300 will get you a ham sandwich.” “$300 Canadian,” comes the reply, telling you everything you need to know about the state of the economy.
Civil War was written and directed by Alex Garland, who also made Annihilation, Ex Machina, and the underrated Dredd (the 2012 reboot not the Stallone movie). Many viewers expected Civil War to serve some lectures about red state/blue state politics, but it doesn’t. Tyler makes astute comments about the hidden politics (and reviews the movie here).
My interest was more on how the film portrays war—war is hell but it’s also fucking amazing. The photojournalists at the heart of the story justify their actions as serving a higher purpose, but in reality, they have become addicted to the adrenaline. Civil War shares themes with Nightcrawler. The journalists also share more than they think with the sick fucks who also love war because it gives them a chance to torture and kill.
A great scene at the climax incarnates the “when one dies, another is born” trope. The lead character starts to feel and gain a moral code, only to be killed for it, while the apprentice simultaneously sheds hers, emerging as a new, amoral hero. And it’s all caught on film. Karma is a bitch. The transition isn’t surprising given the logic of the setup but it is handled with originality and grace.
Recommended, given the obvious strictures about violence and serious themes.
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