you know them. I know them. We all know them. At this time, there is no need for further implementation of A24 in this modern industry. As a company, they have completely carved out their own innovative path to becoming one of the world’s most renowned production and distribution companies. As A24 grows, their ambitions expand further and further into different genres, and this is no exception. Civil War is the latest addition to their catalogue, and with a budget of around $50 million, it’s certainly their most expensive. A24’s first blockbuster is here, directed by Alex Garland and starring the wonderful Kirsten Dunst. Will fat checks and star power lead to an exciting blockbuster? Apparently not always. I’ll keep this short and sweet, baby.
big and shallow story
There is no denying that Alex Garland may be an authoritative author, based on his work on Ex Machina, which helped push for the A24 bill early on. Here, he’s an empty shell of himself because he’s trying to say something important, but he never gets to that point. “Civil War” certainly has shocking, gruesome and horrifying images, but why is it shown? In this story, we don’t even know if the filmmakers will be able to properly answer that as they take you on a streetcar ride and a road trip. The subject matter is empty and boring as you are forced to be with a group of unlikable characters to root for. War is a complicated subject so maybe you shouldn’t root for them, but I mean you really don’t like them. Kirsten Dunst is the main character in this war-torn America, but she just can’t bring herself to do it. She is driven but dull, and you are unable to empathize with or root for her. This also applies to the rest of the cast (save for the charming Stephen McKinley Henderson). War is a difficult subject in itself, but giving us unlikable characters absolutely holds us back.
However, there are some great set pieces that will give you the action you want. Director Alex Garland uses his talent to induce anxiety and stress in his sometimes subtle style. Especially the great Jesse Plemons scene. The ending is especially funny, reminding me of the glory of Modern Warfare 2 (I’m serious). All of which is accompanied by stunning photography and exciting sound design. So, it’s not all that it is, it does at least provide some thrills.
Overall, this feels like an unpolished product and idea. It’s disappointing to say the least, because wars fought in our backyard are an inherently interesting and frightening concept.
I hope you learned your lesson, A24
As I internalize “Civil War,” I can’t help but think of the irony. A24 is a company that embraces different ideas and pursues talent on a shoestring budget. It’s not necessarily a bad thing for him to drop $50 million on an action blockbuster, but it feels a little old-fashioned for A24 to do it. And now we have another boring big budget with no execution or entertainment value. I really wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately I wasn’t in the mood to get excited.
I’m not totally against another A24 blockbuster, but I really wish they’d try harder if that’s the case. I know I sound pretentious and grumpy, but I was really disappointed! Especially when we manage to get an Alex Garland redemption flick.
If you enjoy watching it, enjoy the good stuff. This is not for me and I found it very boring. War will never change, but I think war movies will certainly change.
watch a movie
