Civil War

[SecondHandFurniture]

Really enjoyed this. Kirsten Dunst is excellent and I quite liked that the film didn't go too deep into what each side stood for - it almost didn't matter.

[TerrorAustralis]

Just came here to see if there was already a thread on this.

I had no idea what to expect going in — DH suggested it and I watched a couple of trailers and still really wasn’t sure what the story was.

It was incredible. So visceral. It was good, but it was a lot. I sat in my seat and sobbed at the end. I honestly could have sat there and cried for a good five minutes.

[Workingmytickettoparadise]

I didn’t quite know what to expect but I really enjoyed it. I think it’s a lot to process in terms of the themes and issues raised. At the end I didn’t like the younger character and the lack of emotion displayed. I agree Kirsten Dunst was great.

[SleepingStandingUp]

Bloody Jessy!!

We really enjoyed it, I thought the lack of emotion at the end was about her hardening up and being more like mentor - get the job done.

[SecondHandFurniture]

Absolutely - it was implied when Jesse got up and kept moving, with just a glance behind, that you have to in these situations.

I think it's interesting that a Press vest as a war photographer does seem to give you instant neutrality and you just get to tag along!

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

I saw it tonight. A good film. Very harrowing. I couldn't watch during some scenes and I almost jumped out of my skin at times.

I agree with comments so far relating to press neutrality which was a very interesting point of view. (No helmets at the end though?) Also I agree with the portrayal of pointless devastation of war and the desensitisation of the young girl as she became a professional photographer. It was thought-provoking and very chilling.

[TerrorAustralis]

The lack of helmets at the end stood out to me too. Especially as there’s a scene earlier where Lee tells Jessie to get herself a helmet.

One thing I kept thinking all the way through was nobody was protecting their ears. They were all going to end up with damaged hearing. Get some earplugs people!

The press vest does seem to give entree, but I thought it odd in the first scene where Lee is only wearing a high-vis vest and not a press vest. Maybe that was just so it could be handed over easily? The vest and helmet wearing seemed a bit inconsistent throughout.

At the end it did seem that the baton had been passed to Jessie, when Lee is breaking down and Jessie starts coming into her own as a professional.

Kirsten Dunst was amazing. I liked that they didn’t try to make her glamorous.

Fun fact - Jesse Plemons, who plays the soldier who kills Tony and Bohai, is Kirsten Dunst’s husband.

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

Kristen Dunst was brilliant in it. Wow, that soldier was her actual husband!

Yes. I thought the same about passing on the baton. Jessie became Lee at the end.
PTSD. Yes, that's what it was. Lee had flashbacks in the bath.

Damaged hearing. I know! The absolute noise of it all. I couldn't imagine it.

[PegasusReturns]

it almost didn't matter

I’d go further and say it didn’t matter at all. The film was wholly unconcerned with the whys of war. Great film and I appreciated that Dunst’s character was not constructed to be in any way sexy or glamorous.

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

Yes. The film ended quickly and brutally as well.

[TerrorAustralis]

@PegasusReturns

it almost didn't matter

I’d go further and say it didn’t matter at all. The film was wholly unconcerned with the whys of war. Great film and I appreciated that Dunst’s character was not constructed to be in any way sexy or glamorous.

It seems like that was a deliberate choice. I saw this on IMDB:
Alex Garland told a reporter at the premiere that the pairing of California and Texas was, in part, to obfuscate the politics but more importantly, that these two states put aside political differences to challenge an unconstitutional, fascistic and corrupt president who is killing American civilians. He said, "Are you saying extremist politics would always remain more important than a president of this sort? That sounds crazy to me."

[PegasusReturns]

Thanks @TerrorAustralis I’m sure it was deliberate.

Interesting that the intention was to portray “an unconstitutional, fascistic and corrupt president who is killing American civilians”. I didn’t feel that came across in the film, it appeared more neutral, which was I think the most impressive characteristic of the the film: a war film with no good v evil.

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

Yes, I thought the same Pegasus.
Thanks TerrorAustralis for that.

[TerrorAustralis]

I thought the closer it got to the end, the more it showed the president as not being the good guy (earlier it wasn’t clear to me). When they mentioned he was in his third term, it makes it clear something is not right, because in the US presidents are only allowed to serve two terms.

It reminded me a bit of The Thin Red Line as a war movie in that way — war is hell and there are no good guys and bad guys. It’s all just bad business and people suffer because of it.

[CormorantStrikesBack]

I want to go and see this, I read some good press reports about it but when I googled reviews from actual people seemed very negative so glad to hear some positive reviews from people who have seen it.

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

Yes. I would recommend it.
If I had popcorn, it would have been all over the place 😁

[TerrorAustralis]

@CormorantStrikesBack

I want to go and see this, I read some good press reports about it but when I googled reviews from actual people seemed very negative so glad to hear some positive reviews from people who have seen it.

It’s absolutely worth seeing, but be prepared, it’s not an easy watch. I was so tense I couldn’t eat my snacks!

[SecondHandFurniture]

The only time you got a clear read on their political views (before the very end) was when one of them hesitantly answered they were from Florida.

[imnottoofussed]

I have to say it's a good film but I did want to cry from quite early on with the scene with the gunman hiding behind the pillar. It only got more traumatic from then on really. I came out feeling like it was just a bit too much for me

[FuzzyCaoraDhubh]

Yes. It was straight into it from the start.
No lead in at all. Tough going.

[Curiossir]

I saw it last night and found it annoying. Main gripe is that the minor characters that were introduced were very obviously there for a specific purpose. I found it inconsistent and 'glitzy'. It's a shame, as it had a great premise. Also, I don't know if it was the cinema that I saw it in, but the dialogue was occasionally incomprehensible.

[rookiemere]

It was an interesting film, although perhaps not as clever as it thought it was. I'm not sure it had anything particularly new to say about war, but the visuals and use of sound tracks was good.

Kirsten Dunst was amazing, not just her performance but so refreshing to see an actress who actually looks her age and has a fully mobile face as her ability to act through expressions alone incredible .

I wondered if there was a bit of a nod to All About Eve in there - ancient film about ingenue overtaking star. I didn't think the young actress was well served, I just found her annoying .

[heldinadream]

Glad to see this thread. I found it extremely good, but harrowing. I started an AIBU thread about it earlier but not many takers.

AIBU to warn you about the film Civil War? No spoilers though. | Mumsnet