And...the "Leader in the Clubhouse" for Best Picture of 2024 is...
Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR.
Positing the question: "What would the United States be like if it was a war-torn country (like the ones we see on the news every night)", CIVIL WAR follows 4 journalists as they travel from New York to Washington D. C. during a 2nd U. S. Civil War.
Garland (EX MACHINA) wisely sidesteps any political issues (the film doesn't explicitly state why the states are at war, who started it and - most importantly - who's politics are who's) and focusing on the tragedy and human costs of the conflict.
Kirsten Dunst (MELANCHOLIA) stars as Lee, a widely acclaimed war photographer who is hardened to the human element of conflicts and sits just outside, watching and taking pictures and never getting involved. It is, beyond a doubt, the finest performance of Dunst's career and is layered with strength, dignity, humanity, emotion and stoicism. It will not surprise me to hear Dunst's name called next year during Oscar nomination time - she's that good.
She is joined on her journey by colleagues, Joel (Wagner Moura - NARCOS), Sammy (veteran character actor Stephen McKinley Henderson - DUNE) and newcomer Jessie (played by newcomer Cailee Spaeny - BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE). The all bring humanity and emotion to the horrors of war with both Moura and Henderson having moments to shine, while Spaeny is less successful, but - ultimately - lands a smart, complex character.
Oh...and "mark of quality" Jesse Plemons (GAME NIGHT...and Kirsten Dunst's spouse) shows up in a horrific extended cameo as a local militia soldier who takes his "patriotism" just a little too far.
And..that's the point of the film as Directed (and Written...marvelously, I might add) by Garland. It's not a story of political divides, it's a cautionary tale of the horrors of war - and what might become of this country should we continue down a dangerous path.
Garland Directs this story with a steady hand...moving the action along at just the right pace, never stopping to preach or to exploit...but giving the story and the characters room to breathe and to grow.
The result is an emotionally satisfying, visceral look at the human consequences of war - whether we choose to believe it or not.
Letter Grade: A
9 Stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Alex Garland's CIVIL WAR.
Positing the question: "What would the United States be like if it was a war-torn country (like the ones we see on the news every night)", CIVIL WAR follows 4 journalists as they travel from New York to Washington D. C. during a 2nd U. S. Civil War.
Garland (EX MACHINA) wisely sidesteps any political issues (the film doesn't explicitly state why the states are at war, who started it and - most importantly - who's politics are who's) and focusing on the tragedy and human costs of the conflict.
Kirsten Dunst (MELANCHOLIA) stars as Lee, a widely acclaimed war photographer who is hardened to the human element of conflicts and sits just outside, watching and taking pictures and never getting involved. It is, beyond a doubt, the finest performance of Dunst's career and is layered with strength, dignity, humanity, emotion and stoicism. It will not surprise me to hear Dunst's name called next year during Oscar nomination time - she's that good.
She is joined on her journey by colleagues, Joel (Wagner Moura - NARCOS), Sammy (veteran character actor Stephen McKinley Henderson - DUNE) and newcomer Jessie (played by newcomer Cailee Spaeny - BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE). The all bring humanity and emotion to the horrors of war with both Moura and Henderson having moments to shine, while Spaeny is less successful, but - ultimately - lands a smart, complex character.
Oh...and "mark of quality" Jesse Plemons (GAME NIGHT...and Kirsten Dunst's spouse) shows up in a horrific extended cameo as a local militia soldier who takes his "patriotism" just a little too far.
And..that's the point of the film as Directed (and Written...marvelously, I might add) by Garland. It's not a story of political divides, it's a cautionary tale of the horrors of war - and what might become of this country should we continue down a dangerous path.
Garland Directs this story with a steady hand...moving the action along at just the right pace, never stopping to preach or to exploit...but giving the story and the characters room to breathe and to grow.
The result is an emotionally satisfying, visceral look at the human consequences of war - whether we choose to believe it or not.
Letter Grade: A
9 Stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)