Civil War produced by A24.
To my surprise and delight, the film was totally different from the cleverly crafted trailer I have seen earlier, the effect of which I suspect was intentional. While the teaser appeared like another rollercoaster thriller of previously trodden paths, the work I saw before me in a movie theatre in Tokyo was a fresh, thought-provoking take at a theme people might have long started to think is run-of-the-mill.
The cinematography was stunningly beautiful and inspiring. My favorite scenes are the car trip through the burning forest at night and the terrifying scene in the field with the uncredited appearance of Jesse Plemons, who stole the show all the same.
From the beginning to the controversial ending, the film's statement seemed to be that nothing is sacred. While the more lucky among us breathe in the comfort zones of civilization, the reality of the world is that many people are suffering in chaos, right now, as I write this. There is no moat of presumed privileged society for people, even those in such a superb nation as the United States of America.
I am a great fan of A24, ever since I saw Lady Bird in 2017. It is reassuring that my trusted brand in the film industry took this creative approach to what is often treated as a mundane subject resting on the assumption of bipartisanship in the traditional media. Here's to the spirit of film-making and journalism.
