N contemporary (but fictitious) USA an ugly civil war is taking place between government forces and an insurrectionist militia led by a secessionist coalition between Texas and California. Jaded war photographer Lee is heading from New York to Washington, accompanied by her journalist partner Joel, keen young would-be photojournalist Jesse, and ageing mentor Sammy. The journey is not straightforward.
It wasn't until the credits rolled that I was aware that this was an Alex Garland film. I have seen Ex Machina and Annihilation, and both were films which I wanted to enjoy more than I did. I think I felt, in both cases, there was an intellectual subtext which, for a dimwit like me, took attention away from an otherwise straightforward and entertaining sci-fi yarn.
Civil War is, if anything, the opposite way round. There is no story as such, simply a trip during which things happen. We never find out what the civil war is about, what happened, what divides or unites the factions. We just see the effects of the war on civilians and combatants, as well as on an eerily unspecific class halfway between, people who are prepared to defend themselves and their property with armed force. The lines between combatants, people defending themselves, vigilantes, and outright murderers become very very blurred, and perhaps that's the point. There are plenty of questions but no answers.
The film is very well staged. It always feels real. A landscape caught up in civil war in the modern era is well conveyed, as are the population reacting to it, all in different ways, as best they can. Sound design is very effective especially when used for some shockingly effective gunshots.
The characters don't lend themselves to viewer identification and the film overall is surprisingly unemotional. To the extent that there are character arcs, Lee is desensitised through years of war photography, while newcomer Jess still finds it all too close. For me the most effective emotional moment (in a negative way - Spoiler alert) came at the end, when Lee is killed pushing Jess out of the way of a burst of gunfire while Jess acknowledges the sacrifice with a backward glance while pressing on in pursuit of the photo.
The film is somewhat dispiriting, and never really goes anywhere definite, but it certainly gave me some food for thought.
It wasn't until the credits rolled that I was aware that this was an Alex Garland film. I have seen Ex Machina and Annihilation, and both were films which I wanted to enjoy more than I did. I think I felt, in both cases, there was an intellectual subtext which, for a dimwit like me, took attention away from an otherwise straightforward and entertaining sci-fi yarn.
Civil War is, if anything, the opposite way round. There is no story as such, simply a trip during which things happen. We never find out what the civil war is about, what happened, what divides or unites the factions. We just see the effects of the war on civilians and combatants, as well as on an eerily unspecific class halfway between, people who are prepared to defend themselves and their property with armed force. The lines between combatants, people defending themselves, vigilantes, and outright murderers become very very blurred, and perhaps that's the point. There are plenty of questions but no answers.
The film is very well staged. It always feels real. A landscape caught up in civil war in the modern era is well conveyed, as are the population reacting to it, all in different ways, as best they can. Sound design is very effective especially when used for some shockingly effective gunshots.
The characters don't lend themselves to viewer identification and the film overall is surprisingly unemotional. To the extent that there are character arcs, Lee is desensitised through years of war photography, while newcomer Jess still finds it all too close. For me the most effective emotional moment (in a negative way - Spoiler alert) came at the end, when Lee is killed pushing Jess out of the way of a burst of gunfire while Jess acknowledges the sacrifice with a backward glance while pressing on in pursuit of the photo.
The film is somewhat dispiriting, and never really goes anywhere definite, but it certainly gave me some food for thought.