Civil War movie is a must-see film even though we all found this Brisbane preview screening disturbing and convincingly confronting.
The movie’s focus is not on the civil war itself but on the plight and obsession of four ambitious journalists determined to be immersed in the action, at any cost, for that perfect shot. I found their pursuit self-centred and wondered if this happens in true life. They were willing to put others at risk even if it meant the death of colleagues.
Nonetheless, the concept of a civil war in true life played on our minds.
Set in a future United States it made me think these circumstances are not that futuristic but rather a little too scaringly close to the here and now.
Particularly since January 6, 2021 when more than 2,000 rioters stormed the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. It was when the then US President Donald Trump was defeated in the 2020 Presidential election. How can we forget? Many vandalized, looted and assaulted police officers and reporters in an attempt to capture and harm lawmakers. They sought to keep Trump in power and attacked the iconic building to prevent the formalized counting of votes and victory from the President-elect, Joe Biden. The attack was ultimately unsuccessful but within 36 hours people died and hundreds were injured.
This film made a big impact on us. At the end of the movie, my friends and I turned to each other and said wow this could happen in true life. Great cinematography that took the audience into the war zones capturing the close encounters and horrifying moments.
It has been a while since seeing actor Kirsten Dunst on screen. She was fabulous in her role as Mary Jane, an experienced and famous war correspondent known for her tendency to be in the thick of it constantly risking her life. But decades of exposure and her vast encounters had worn her thin, a smile on her face a rare treat.
Civil War does more than a hint at potential conflicts. It could be real, potentially ahead of us in the future. Maybe this is the message writer/director Alex Garland intended. If so heaven help us. If you like action, war drama and powerful storytelling, this film is for you.
The Story
A futuristic USA where civil war has broken out and America is not what it once was. It is a war in an already devastated country where California and Texas have joined forces against a dictatorial president who has gained a third term in office and disbanded the FBI.
Alex Garland sent us on a journey immersing the audience in a frightening ride from a war correspondent/journalistic perspective.
The journalists travel from New York to Washington their objectives are essentially similar. To capture the perfect shot (without being shot) and to interview the President before the rebel factions descended on the White House to kill him.
Their travels are not without dire hiccups as events unfold along the way. Still, the desperate need to capture that storytelling picture in the gravest of circumstances never left them.
They were up close and personal glowing in euphoric adrenaline as they walked in the soldiers’ footsteps photographing every action and emotional moment while bullets hissed over their heads, and loud explosions erupted within metres from where they lurked. They chose to follow a perilous path with too many close encounters in a deathly environment.
Cast and Crew
Writer/Director: Alex Garland
Producers: Andrew Macdonald; Allon Reich; Gregory Goodman
Cinematography: Rob Hardy
Main Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny
Released in Australian cinemas on 11 April
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References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack
Ruth Greening holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology & Philosophy. Before retirement, she worked for over 40 years in the corporate world in Melbourne and Brisbane and progressed into senior management positions and project roles for both private industry and government.
In her 70th decade, she continues in casual roles as a freelance writer, model, and actor participating in small movies, TV commercials and User Generated Content.
As a grandmother, she is known as Nanny Babe to her grandchildren and writes from a Baby Boomer perspective on her blog www.nannybabe.com. An avid crafter Ruth actively participates in sewing, crocheting and knitting.
While she continues to pursue her artistic passions, Ruth is dedicated to maintaining her health and fitness as she ages by attending the gym, dancing and walking and thrives on mentoring others.
Connect with Ruth or our moniker Nanny Babe; nannybabegengp.blogspot.com.au/
