I watched the film Civil War, by UK screenwriter/director Alex Garland last evening and compare and contrast it with The Second American Civil War.
The film is about armed conflict in modern-day America and is long on action and short on story. While the main character is courageous and sympathetic, there is not much in the way of character development. However, the acting is solid.
Yes, there are plenty of well-staged and well-shot action scenes, and lots of grisly violent deaths. But the audience has no idea which side the combatants are on, or what they’re fighting for. This makes the deaths largely meaningless, other than an affront to God’s commandments. In two of the most important scenes, opportunities are missed to at least take notice of noble self-sacrifice. But the film dismisses, if not diminishes perhaps the finest attribute of human nature.
Because there is very little information about the national situation, there was no context, no explanation of what the war is about. This’s a big part of why the film left this viewer unsatisfied.
The one level on which the film works best is as an anti-war picture. It could be argued that that’s not a high bar. However, if that gives pause for some who may be disposed to violence, then that’d be useful. But another major defect makes that doubtful.
A huge miss is no exposition of what the rest of the world is going through while the leading democracy’s in chaos. A three minute scene on that highly germane topic would’ve given the film a lot more impact. It would’ve also given viewers something profound to think about. I believe it would’ve added a star to any rating.
The predictable ending is well-staged, shot, and acted, and seems intended to show war as dehumanizing. It certainly works on that level. If the intent was otherwise, then it’s merely cheap sensationalism. Either way, it devalues humanity.
What was accomplished by the ending? Without context, who knows? Was American democracy saved? Was it lost? Lost to what? It just feels like a cop-out. I suppose this may be an attempt to not incite those who adhere to the alternate facts universe.
Meanwhile, viewers are left to wonder how believable it is that Texas and California would be on the same side of a civil war? In today’s USA? Get real. Only a non-US screenwriter could come up with that.
The screenplay is full of holes and missed opportunities, and yet the film was made and is in distribution.
I implore you to compare the above with The Second American Civil War (345 pages), and then write a review on Amazon. I need your help get the word out about a much more thoughtful story that offers insight and ideas that could help close the divide in our country. And all in time, I hope, to have some influence on the November election.
