“Civil War” Movie Review

My personal opinion is that every American should definitely watch “Civil War.”

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

I went to a movie theater to see the new movie called “Civil War” on Sunday night, April 21, 2024. I saw information about it weeks ago and was impatiently waiting for it. Finally, just several days after it was released, I saw it. I knew it was scary, but I just had to see it.

Why do many people want to watch it? Because the situation in the US is getting more and more tense with people being more and more divided by their views and beliefs. It’s a scary fact by itself, but do we believe this separation can lead to a civil war? No? What if… yes? Oscar-nominated movie director and writer Alex Garland decided to show to Americans and to the entire world his version of one possible way the situation could develop. According to descriptions of the movie, his version is a dystopian version of the future of our country.

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

The article published by Deadline Hollywood in January 2022 said that Alex Garland had signed on to write and direct the film for A24 with DNA Films co-producing.

The main characters were presented by the following actors: Kirsten Dunst as Lee Smith, a renowned war photojournalist from Colorado; Wagner Moura as Joel, a Reuters journalist from Florida and Lee's colleague; Cailee Spaeny as Jessie Cullen, an aspiring young photographer from Missouri who accompanies Lee and Joel on their journey to Washington D.C.; Stephen McKinley Henderson as Sammy, a veteran journalist for The New York Times and Lee's mentor; and Nick Offerman as the President of the United States, a dictatorial president currently serving his third term.

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

“Civil War” was theatrically released in the United States by A24 and in the United Kingdom by Entertainment Film Distributors on April 12, 2024.

According to The Telegraph, Garland said that “Civil War” is “set at an indeterminate point in the future – just far enough ahead for me to add a conceit” – and serves as a sci-fi allegory for our currently polarized predicament.

“A journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House,” says www.imdb.com about this movie.

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

Yes, it is rated R. And yes, it shows violence and bloody scenes.

My personal opinion is that every American should definitely watch “Civil War.” Every time you feel angry at your fellow Americans because their views are different than your own think – how far can this division take us? How far can it go? What if it goes too far? Who told you that it’s impossible?  We have already had one civil war in this country. It might happen again, and we all should realize that and try to stay united and find common ground, not something that can separate us.

I liked the way the main actors were playing, but also saw some things that generally surprised me. The choice of music was quite interesting: dramatic music would suddenly change to happy country music or some other tune with a positive mood while on the screen people were dying and blood was everywhere. I guess it was done to release tension built up in the audience and to give people a short emotional break.

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

Plus, some things seemed unrealistic. In real life, journalists do not follow soldiers as closely as they did in this movie (as in the scene at the White House); the level of danger is not that extreme.

"The Western Forces" was an alliance of Texas and California, an interesting combination of states. I guess it was done to not let the audience take sides knowing that those states are quite different in real life.

I personally also didn’t like constant swearing – even if it would have happened only once it would have struck my ear, but it happened very often, literally during the entire movie. I think it immediately sets the movie to a lower standard and is not professional.

Photo: "Civil War." Photo by Natalia Dagenhart

With all that being said, I highly recommend watching “Civil War.” I truly believe that this film is a warning to all of us of what potentially can happen in this country in case Americans don’t find common language and don’t stop the division that is growing in the US on a daily basis.

“One nation, under God, indivisible.” Let it stay this way.

Natalia Dagenhart

04/21/24