After the last few years of having life disrupted to the COVID-19 pandemic, there comes a film about a world in turmoil. Civil War is a representation of what the future could look like if we stayed in pandemic mode much longer. Director Alex Garland is brilliant and an auteur at adding layers of realism and political factors into Civil War. This is not a common, explosive war flick, but instead tells an honest story. Once the film began, it felt like just yesterday when I was annoyed with the world because of the harsh realities of Covid 19 which included lockdowns, governments imposing restrictions, and no clear truth.  I was quickly hooked on the film because of its characters and its intention to find “a clear truth.”

The film is set in a future America where mayhem and turmoil have ensued throughout the world. Nick Offerman plays the president and is bound to be the next target if the demolition overcomes Washington DC. Kirsten Dunst plays Lee, Wagner Moura plays Joel, and Stephen McKinley Henderson plays Sammy.  They are all journalists embedded with the military on the front line working their way to DC. They live the reality ofdestruction every day as they work to capture whatever horrific story comes their way. Cailee Spaeny plays Jessie who is eager to join Lee and her team on their journey to DC.

The brilliance of Civil War lies in its pacing in each setting. Each town they encounter has a unique set of challenges based upon the politics of corruption. Whenever there is a moment of impact or combat, Lee and her team suit up to capture the news. Each day includes life-or-death tasks which becomes the new norm as war makes an impact on everyone. Garland is brave in his direction of Civil War which makes it mentally spellbinding given the combination of politics, news, and wars.

Dunst truly steals the film—her persistence is a portrait of determination to make a story count in Civil War. This is one of the best films I have seen her do. Her performance will enthralland captivate audiences. Her husband Jesse Plemmons is also in the film, and he plays an antagonist. Both deliver roles with gutpunches…Dunst for the good and Plemmons for the bad. However, Dunst is the true revelation and makes this surrealistic film memorable.

Civil War is one of the most captivating films of 2024. Deep-down, my love for Civil War is based on the tolerance it reminded me of during the frustrating the days of 2020. It reminded me of how angry I was that my love for movies and the arts was negatively impacted. During that time, I was consumed by political news from around the world. Over time, I had to learn to tolerate the things I couldn’t control and put adopt a more positive mindset. Civil War painted a true image of life in chaos, and showed what it is like for journalists to cover harsh news. Civil War takes a political story to a whole different level that is unforgettable. Four stars for Civil War.