The Film Board gathers! This month, host Justin Jaeger is joined by Steve Sarmento and Tommy Metz III to litigate Alex Garland’s provocative new film “Civil War.” The movie depicts a dystopian near-future America fractured by a second civil war, following a group of journalists on a perilous trek to interview the authoritarian president.
We dive into the film’s central themes—what it means to bear witness to war, how allegiances break down in times of chaos, and whether the movie serves more as a warning or simply a brutal glimpse of “what if.” We debate Garland’s motivations in making the film now, at a time when a shocking 40% of Americans believe a civil war could happen in the next decade.
JayJay, with his background in TV journalism, scrutinizes the portrayal of war photographers and the language they use. Steve sees Apocalypse Now in the journey into the heart of darkness. And Tommy ponders if the film depicts how quickly social order and humanity could unravel in a new American civil war.
The discussion touches on the graphic war violence that eventually numbs the viewer, mirroring the journalists’ experience. We question if the movie succeeds more in its fictionalized character studies than its social commentary over the ambiguous world-building around the politics of the fractured states.
We grapple with the unsettling implications of Civil War. Is it a sensationalized dystopian vision, an urgent cautionary tale, or a mix of both? The differing perspectives make for a solid conversation about one of the year’s polarizing films.
Film Sundries
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- Theatrical trailer
- Letterboxd
