Civil War is truly a masterful piece of cinema. It is a gritty, captivating, enigmatic and rich depiction of a near future where the United States has descended into full blown civil war.
In every conceivable way I think this film is a masterpiece.
Approaching the concept through the lens of a team of journalists, specifically photographers, is genius. It makes for such striking imagery, giving the film a documentary feel with a gritty and matter of fact realness to it. Visually Civil War is a mesmerising treat.
Then there is the sound which might be my favourite aspect of this film. I can't remember the last time I saw a film with such a commanding use of sound. You're ears will be ripped from deafening silences to booming firefights that will plunge you into the action and pull you into screen. I urge everybody to see this film at the theatre to experience this incredible sound design to the fullest.
Watching the trailer I assumed Kirsten Dunst would be the driving force of this film, but it's Cailee Spaeny who emerges as the MVP. All of the performances are superb, but it is Spaeny who steals the show for me with a thoroughly captivating performance, particularly as the film progresses.
All of this praise and I haven't even mentioned the concept, which is just so good. We are drip fed information about why these events are going on, but really this is never the focus of the narrative. Instead we are left to speculate as to how this near future has emerged, which again I think is a genius decision from Garland.
Speaking of Garland, with an already stacked resume, somehow he tops the lot with Civil War. The way he creates tension and urgency in particular is masterful, and his overall direction is nothing short of superb.
This is by far and away my film of the year, and even though we are only four months in I struggle to see how it could be topped.
In every conceivable way I think this film is a masterpiece.
Approaching the concept through the lens of a team of journalists, specifically photographers, is genius. It makes for such striking imagery, giving the film a documentary feel with a gritty and matter of fact realness to it. Visually Civil War is a mesmerising treat.
Then there is the sound which might be my favourite aspect of this film. I can't remember the last time I saw a film with such a commanding use of sound. You're ears will be ripped from deafening silences to booming firefights that will plunge you into the action and pull you into screen. I urge everybody to see this film at the theatre to experience this incredible sound design to the fullest.
Watching the trailer I assumed Kirsten Dunst would be the driving force of this film, but it's Cailee Spaeny who emerges as the MVP. All of the performances are superb, but it is Spaeny who steals the show for me with a thoroughly captivating performance, particularly as the film progresses.
All of this praise and I haven't even mentioned the concept, which is just so good. We are drip fed information about why these events are going on, but really this is never the focus of the narrative. Instead we are left to speculate as to how this near future has emerged, which again I think is a genius decision from Garland.
Speaking of Garland, with an already stacked resume, somehow he tops the lot with Civil War. The way he creates tension and urgency in particular is masterful, and his overall direction is nothing short of superb.
This is by far and away my film of the year, and even though we are only four months in I struggle to see how it could be topped.