308.
Civil War
7/10
Sometimes you watch a movie for some escapism to see events that would never happen. Sometimes movies come around and you find yourself thinking the world isn't too far away from something along these lines actually happening. I'm not from the US but it's reported on enough the tensions in the States around election time. The director and writer Alex Garland, known for some experimental and thought-inducing movies such as Annihilation, Men and Ex Machina, gives us a story set in the near future in which a civil war has taken over the United States. The third-term president, who leads an authoritarian federal government is claiming victory is near, even as the White House will soon be reached by the 'Western Forces' of California and Texas. He has disbanded the FBI, ordered air strikes on his own civilians and his leadership has caused the Dollar to crash.
We are about to follow a veteran war photographer named Lee Smith, played by Kirsten Dunst as she heads towards D.C. to interview the President before he is set upon by anyone else. She has seen the horrors of war and is completely numb to violence at this point. She knows and discusses her plans with her mentor Sammy. As those close to her either try to dissuade her from heading on her journey or are eager to join make the trip, Lee reluctantly lets a young journalist join the party, played by Cailee Spaeny. Lee, without knowing, takes this young girl under her wings as they approach their first stop at a gas station which is protected by armed men who have hung alleged looters. Lee diffuses the situation by taking pictures of the men with their victims while Jessie berates herself for being too stunned to take any photos. Lee tries to explain to her that becoming a photographer means putting her life in danger.
Our group get caught up in fighting areas, sniper fire and every moment and incident builds Jessie's courage as a photographer. One moment becomes unnerving for the viewer as a few of them are held at gunpoint by a group of militia and are only saved by Sammy ramming the gunmen with the car before they are shot and buried in a mass grave, but Sammy is mortally wounded. Heading closer to D.C. they find that most of the loyalists have started surrendering, leaving D.C. to be defended by the most fanatical. Lee finds herself unable to document Sammy's death and deletes the picture she took of him.
The final act by our group is for them to embed themselves in the Western Front as they finally reach D.C. and the White House. Jessie is now full throttle, putting herself in the firing line whilst Lee is struggling with the situation. They reach fortified gates as the presidential limo leaves and is quickly intercepted and the occupants are killed. Understanding that this is a distraction, our final trio make their way into the White House to hunt down the President. Remaining are a few Secret Service agents wanting to discuss the surrender of the President but this quickly turns into a fire fight. Jessie once again puts herself in danger and is only saved by Lee pushing her out of the way and taking the bullets herself. Without a second thought, Jessie documents Lee's death before moving on through the White House. Entering the Oval Office, the President is pulled to the floor by a couple of Western Forces soldiers and prepare to execute him. Joel, Lee's one remaining partner stops them to get a quote from the President, which is 'Don't let them kill me'. Satisfied, he no longer delays and the movie ends with Jessie documenting the soldiers posing with the President's corpse.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the fact that at times there are residents of the United States threatening actions along these lines is scary. A President who turns around and decides that killing their own countrymen is an act they feel they deserve forgiveness for can only be supported by the brainwashed and crazy. Having recently been to the state and listening to how a waitress was telling me why she votes the way she does, it's not hard to believe that people think in this radical way. The movie felt like it was a documentary and possibly found footage movie at times which is only a compliment as I was gripped from beginning to end by the way the storyline came across. Captivating and intense and without glorifying war, this movie gives a glimpse of what a future could be like whilst also focusing on a 'coming of age' storyline throughout the world of war journalism.
I think the cast may go very underappreciated as we see Kirsten Dunst lead the line as a weary reporter who is clearly sick of this shit but still has time for the newcomer. Cailee Spaeny as said newcomer quickly grows through this movie until the end, being the main journalist and one unsung cast member who isn't in the movie too long, Jessie Plemons. Plemons isn't credited in the movie but plays one of the gunmen who is around the mass grave. This character is off-the-charts crazy so keep an eye out.
This movie doesn't come to a happy conclusion, it doesn't leave you feeling warm and cosy at any point. In my opinion, the movie wouldn't have worked if it wasn't exactly as it was. This is the sheer dread of was and doesn't shy away from showing how dark and desperate it can become. I may not revisit this movie again but that isn't a reflection on what it was, it was more of an impact movie that that you may never be in the mood to experience again.
