‘Civil War,’ possibly the year’s most controversial film, packs a punch
“Civil War,” the latest film from British director-writer Alex Garland (“Annihilation,” “Ex-Machina”), takes what many whisper about in these divisive, polarizing times and turns it into a smartly crafted, suspenseful, propulsive thriller that manages to make a statement without tipping Garland’s political hand too much.
Kirsten Dunst and Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (“Elite Squad,” “Narcos”) are Lee and Joel, a photographer and reporter working for Reuters, who are covering the war that has broken out in a near-future America as the country’s three most populous states, California, Texas and Florida, declare war on Washington, D.C. The first two try to secede under the banner of the Western Alliance while the Sunshine State is heading the Florida Alliance.
The journalists decide to leave the relative safety of an unraveling New York City to travel closer to the heart of darkness in D.C. to attempt to snare the last interview with an increasingly embattled president (Nick Offerman) before he either surrenders, is forced from office or is assassinated.
In order to do that, they have to travel through areas that have fallen into anarchy and chaos. Complicating matters is that they’ve taken on two passengers who may be more liability than asset: young, eager but inexperienced photographer Jessie (Cailee Spaeney, “Priscilla”) and experienced but ailing war correspondent Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson).
Much has been made online how unrealistic it is that Texas and California would be allies in a potential conflict, and Garland has even responded to the social media firestorm by explaining in the Hollywood Reporter that he conceived the story in this way “partly to get around a kind of reflexive, polarizing position that people might fall into, that’s one thing, but actually that’s not the main thing. The main thing is to do with how the president is presented and what can be inferred from that.”
In other words, the president (who is never given a name) is a fascist who has both ended the FBI and used air strikes on American citizens, prompting blue-state and red-state America to erupt into spasms of ever-increasing violence. Some might criticize Garland for cowardice in not wanting to offend one end of the spectrum or the other or for simply being unrealistic. Still, his approach does allow all viewers to get on board with the premise.
It helps that Garland doesn’t bother to explain too much. The director drops you in the middle of the action and you’re left to piece together the events that have led to this moment. It just as well could have been contemporary Haiti, a collapsing Yugoslavia in the ’90s or any country that has hungrily turned on itself. (It’s probably no accident that the soundtrack includes tracks from the band Suicide.)
Yet “Civil War” isn’t just about good guys versus bad guys. It’s not a reimagining of “Red Dawn,” John Milius’ 1994 drama about teenagers defending the U.S. against a Soviet invasion. Instead, it’s a much more nuanced look at people caught up in the middle of forces they are more and more finding difficult to comprehend. That they happen to be journalists just trying to do their jobs underscores the importance of good journalism in an increasingly fractured world.
As the four descend farther into the belly of this new America, Garland cranks up the tension and suspense, using his command of visuals and sound (the film is especially powerful in IMAX) to propel the outwardly simple story forward. If, at times, “Civil War” has the feel of a jump-scare horror movie, it’s worth noting that Garland wrote “28 Days Later,” one of the all-time great zombie films. (And the presence of Offerman brings back memories of one of the best episodes of the HBO zombie series, “The Last of Us.”)
And in a brief but memorable turn, camo-clad Jesse Plemons is zombie-scary as a paramilitary militia member whose loyalties remain murky while his cruel nativism does not.
Yet it’s the versatile and impressive Dunst who holds the film together as a seasoned professional grown weary after a steady diet of death, despair and trauma as she and Joel try to write history on the fly. It’s something that she can’t really articulate to Jessie, an acolyte who wants to be just like her, or her gung-ho reporting partner, Joel. Still, it’s the film’s beating heart.
And it’s this internal war that just may be the toughest to win.
Here are the major films being released in theaters or on streaming this week.
‘Aavesham’
Malayalam-language action movie from India.
Unrated. Playing at AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond; Cinemark Missouri City.
‘The Absence of Eden’
Zoe Saldaña, Adria Arjona and Garrett Hedlund star in a drama in which an ICE agent and an undocumented woman on the run from a cartel team up to save a young girl’s life.
Rated R. Playing at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC First Colony, 24 Sugar Land; AMC Katy Mills, Katy.
‘Arcadian’
This audience award nominee at SXSW stars Nicolas Cage as a father of twins who’s fighting to survive in a remote farmhouse as the world is ending.
Rated R. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’
Action-thriller from India.
Unrated. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Capitan Avispa’
Spanish-language animated film from the Dominican Republic in which Capitan Avispa, hero of the Honey Kingdom, goes up against the evil wasp Jacques Poison.
Unrated. Playing at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston.
‘Civil War’
The newest film from Alex Garland (“Annihilation,” “Ex-Machina”) is a suspenseful journey across the landscape of a near-future America in the throes of a civil war. Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons and Nick Offerman star.
Rated R. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Dear’
Tamil-language romantic-comedy from India about a new bride whose snoring impacts her marriage.
Unrated. Playing at AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land.
‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’
Comedy starring June Squibb and Nicole Richie in which a girl finds her world upended when her mom leaves on a trip and the elderly babysitter passes away.
Rated R. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Fasal Men El Lahazat El Lazeeza’
Arabic-language Egyptian comedy about a boy in a troubled family who finds a better version of his family through a portal in the attic.
Unrated. Playing at Regal Greenway Grand Palace 24, Houston.
‘Geethanjali Malli Vachindi’
Telugu-language horror-comedy from India.
Unrated. Playing at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond; Cinemark Katy, Katy.
‘The Greatest Hits’
David Corenswet and Lucy Boynton star in this romantic fantasy in which a woman discovers that certain songs send her back in time.
Rated PG-13. Streaming on Hulu.
‘In Flames’
Urdu-language horror film from Pakistan in which a mother and daughter are attacked by evil forces after the patriarch of the family dies.
Unrated. Playing at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston.
‘Labyrinth’
Jim Henson directed this 1986 family adventure film starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.
Rated PG. Screens 8 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
‘The Long Game’
Based on a true story, five young Mexican American golfers in 1950s South Texas create their own golf course. Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez star.
Rated PG. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Maidann’
Sports drama based on the life of the Indian national football coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
Unrated. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Romeo’
Bilingual Tamil-Telugu-language romantic drama from India.
Unrated. Playing at AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; Cinemark Katy, Katy.
‘Showing Up’
Kelly Reichardt (“Wendy and Lucy”) directs this drama, starring Michelle Williams and Andre 3000, about a sculptor struggling to open a new show while dealing with family issues.
Unrated. Screens 7 p.m. today at Rice Cinema, Houston.
‘Sting’
Kiah Roche-Turner (of “Wyrmwood” fame) directs a horror-thriller in which a girl raises a spider that becomes a monster.
Rated R. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Suga: Agust D Tour ‘D-Day’ the Movie’
BTS concert documentary.
Unrated. Playing throughout Houston.
‘Sweet Dreams’
Johnny Knoxville stars in this comedy-drama about a misfit softball team at a sober-living facility.
Unrated. Playing at Regal Benders Landing, Spring.
‘Unsinkable’
Drama based on the work of former U.S. Sen. William Alden Smith who led the Senate investigation into the Titanic disaster.
Unrated. Playing at Regal Greenway Grand Palace 24, Houston; Star Cinema Grill, Spring.
‘Varshangalkku Shesham’
Malayalam-language drama from India.
Unrated. Playing at Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond; Cinemark Missouri City.