{"id":1529,"date":"2024-05-16T09:38:21","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T09:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nancyepton.co.uk\/?p=1529"},"modified":"2024-05-16T09:38:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T09:38:21","slug":"review-civil-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nancyepton.co.uk\/?p=1529","title":{"rendered":"Review: Civil War"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s difficult to separate some actors from their signature roles. Yes, Nick Offerman has knocked the ball out of the park in The Last of Us<\/em> and numerous other TV shows, but it\u2019s hard to picture him as anyone else apart from the laconic Ron Swanson. When Offerman\u2019s acting as the maniacal POTUS in Civil War<\/em>, it\u2019s difficult not to imagine him dictating the Pyramid of Greatness to a class of school children. Likewise, it\u2019s challenging to picture Jesse Plemons as anyone other than resident psychopath Todd from Breaking Bad<\/em> (not to worry with this one, though, as he plays a similarly unhinged douchebag in this rodeo too). It\u2019s not too much of the problem, though, as neither actor gets a huge amount of screen time in Alex Garland\u2019s latest feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The plot, set in a dystopian America that\u2019s not quite dystopian with its prescient topics, follows an extended road trip to Washington D.C. by a group of journalists to try and interview the president about his alleged actions against separatist states of the nation. Its basic concept mirrors The Last of Us<\/em>; people are trying to head to a specific location and get hampered by a variety of bad dudes along the way. The characterisation in this one, however, leaves something to be desired. We know that Kirsten Dunst\u2019s Lee is a famous photojournalist and that she\u2019s been traumatised by her experience, but the screenplay never tries to dig deeper than a few measly flashbacks. We never sense what drives her. Likewise, we get little background from Wagner Moura\u2019s Joel, whose wholesome outlook on life is kind of jarring since I mostly just know him as Pablo Escobar in Narcos<\/em>. But that\u2019s a me problem. Other characters, however, are seriously underdrawn, with Lee\u2019s mentor Sammy and rookie photojournalist Jessie making minimal impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil War<\/em>\u00a0does excel, however, in terms of its visual palette. Reportedly the most expensive production by A24 as of writing, many of the apocalyptic landscapes are suitably breath taking. There are some nice moments of sound design too when character\u2019s screams of despair are silent and we\u2019re left to observe scenes of chaos without sound or dialogue. But the film\u2019s frequent lack of emotional engagement with the characters \u2013 and the victims shot with their cameras \u2013 leaves a slightly cold atmosphere. It\u2019s aesthetically impressive, for certain, but it is nonetheless found wanting in heart and heft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s difficult to separate some actors from their signature roles. Yes, Nick Offerman has knocked the ball out of the park in The Last of Us and numerous other TV shows, but it\u2019s hard to picture him as anyone else apart from the laconic Ron Swanson. When Offerman\u2019s acting as the maniacal POTUS in Civil War, it\u2019s difficult … <\/p>\n

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