Civil War

 

This is a brutal movie and given the current political climate opportunistic. The political division is not clear. No manifesto is stated and secessionist states are not identified. Moreover, soldiers wearing the same uniforms make it difficult to identify sides. Killing and brutality are constant throughout the whole film.

This movie is a sleight of hand since the real story concerns photojournalists and the risks they take to get the money shot. Kristin Dunst is Lee, a veteran war photographer who takes great risks to capture the action. Cailee Spaeny is the novice war photojournalist who is terrified of the fighting but energized by it. She takes unnecessary risks. Wagner Moura is a journalist who is Lee’s colleague. Stephen McKinley Henderson is the veteran New York Times reporter. He is old and wise but does not move quickly. Jesse Plemons makes an uncredited appearance (whatever that means) and is a homicidal soldier who kills for no apparent reason.  

In the midst of this mayhem, there were some solid performances. Dunst is passionate about her art but weary of war. Her pain is etched on her face. With shooting and killing around her she still manages to take prize-winning shots. Dunst takes Spaeny under her wing. Even so, Spaeny is reckless and endangers herself and the others. The horrible acts of war transform her, she is hungry for the shot and is energized by the fighting improving her skills.

Moura is a journalist but in the film, he seems more like the driver. He looks after Spaeny like a big brother. He displays an adrenal rush from the proximity to the fighting. Henderson is the wise old journalist who cautions the group.

The relationships of the journalists are the core of the movie. The savagery of the movie misdirects its intent.