#TheAverageViewer - Review of Civil War
Dear Viewer,
From writer-director Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny, this action-adventure thriller offers a compelling cautionary tale of a potential dystopian future for the United States.
The story follows a group of photojournalists on a quest for the ultimate interview during a civil war in their own country. Kirsten Dunst plays Lee, a character modelled after the legendary 1920s American photographer and photojournalist Lee Miller. A seasoned and jaded war correspondent, Lee claims that her career's purpose has been to warn Americans of the very situation she now witnesses: civil war in the homeland.
Dunst effectively portrays the toll such a lifestyle takes. Out of necessity and survival, Lee detaches from her subjects, allowing her audience to interpret her pictures on their own. Garland shows us the disconnection from reality in this notion, illustrating how the act of taking photographs or video inherently changes the situation.
Cailee Spaeny plays Jessie, a superfan who charms her way into the team's van by ingratiating herself with Lee's partner, fellow Reuters News Agency reporter Joel (Wagner Moura). The final addition to the group is the left-leaning journalist Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), ill and nearing the end of his career. Despite the risks, the veterans agree to bring him along out of respect.
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The story follows the classic hero's journey, featuring mentor-mentee dynamics and the classic "stay in the car" trope where disobedience leads to foreseen consequences. The group faces numerous obstacles and monstrous threats as they race to Washington before the White House falls to advancing rebel forces.
The film excels in creating a realistic environment and impressive visual effects. The violence, while intense, serves to advance the story. The supporting cast delivers strong performances, with a notable cameo from Dunst's husband, Jesse Plemons, as a deranged, racist killer. However, the movie struggles to convince this viewer that it isn't political. This morality tale clearly leans in one direction, sending a message that such a scenario could happen in the United States.
Dear average viewer, regardless of your politics, the film is worth watching for its entertainment value, strong acting, and impressive cinematography. It may even provoke discussions about the future. I give this film 4? cups of your favourite brew.