Yada Yada Yada White House
A24 has been hitting it out of the park with recent movie releases. With that in mind, seeing Civil War advertised made me very interested. With the anticipation, there was some reticence. Would this be an American movie, for Americans, by Americans, and really wanting to prove a point? Yes on all fronts, but it was an enjoyable watch. I did feel like I was being told why not to vote for a certain someone.
Overall, it felt like a great idea, not executed as well as you’d hope. Alex Garland, writer and director, set out a big task. I only wish he got some more input to ease over the hard edges.
The “Yada Yada Yada White House” above is in reference to the fact that the movie feels like about three great scenes, with time in between just trying to get you to the end of the movie, which is the showstopper, no doubt. The scenes keep you interested, but it really feels like the in-between was not thought through.
Another glaring issue is the military scenes. They just didn’t feel real, and not 80s Arnie unreal. It wanted to be real but just felt like theater. Not crazy enough to be John Wick, at the same time missing something to make me feel in the place. All the sets felt like sets; it’s hard to explain the feeling, but they all felt like a sound stage. The stunts were cool, but they felt like stunts. Again, Alex Garland is a great filmmaker, but he does not make war movies, and could have used the help.
Characters:
This is probably the biggest issue I had with the movie. The rest of it I could overlook because it was an intriguing ride. The main characters were just undercooked and clichés.
Lee – Kirsten Dunst
There is no argument that Kirsten Dunst is a great actor, and has been for a very long time. This is an example of the old adage of you can only work with what you have. Lee is a war photographer and a little jaded. She is cold with Jessie to start with, but takes her under her wing and shows she has a heart. She is the epitome of ‘I’m too old for this sh*t’. The stereotype is so strong that nothing she does surprises you, and her crescendo at the end of the film was neither surprising nor moving.
Joel – Wagner Moura
I really didn’t like this character. To start with, for the first third of the movie, I thought he was a sex pest. I’m not sure he isn’t, but it never comes up. Again, he is a cliché. The war reporter who runs into the fire and parties hard. He has his heart on his sleeve, and it is shown in a scene where he is screaming as tanks roll behind him. Have I used the word cliché? Joel is a likable idiot; I mean I didn’t like him, but that is the character.
Jessie – Cailee Spaeny
This character is probably the best in terms of development and the one you connect to the most. Again, she is a cliché, a young photographer that wants to be just like her hero, Lee. She steps into danger because she is focused on the photo. But there is something likable about her, and I was rooting for her. Cailee does a great job; I’m going to be
keeping an eye out for her.
President – Nick Offerman
What a waste. The clips of him were captivating. He should have been a bigger character; it would have filled in the Yada Yada Yada and given real drive. Also, his character arc is just disappointing. If you are an Offerfan, you are going to be annoyed.
The Ending
The ending of a movie is the most important part for me. It’s what you are left with; it’s why the story moves forward. In this case, it was the movie-ending equivalent of the word “moist.” It didn’t make me think; instead, it made me hope there was a secret 3 minutes.
With all this taken into account, I enjoyed the movie. The 3 stars (as per the rating scale below) indicate this, but I won’t be watching it again. It’s such a great idea; it made me think about what could have been.
Byron
Star Rating Guide
1 Star: Unable to sit through the movie.
2 Stars: Could force myself to watch it, but not pleased about it.
3 Stars: Enjoyable for a watch, won’t watch again.
4 Stars: Enjoyable, and will be watching it again.
5 Stars: Loved it, can’t wait to see it again.
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