It is not often that viewers come across films that leave them stunned and invested for days on end but it looks like Alex Garland’s Civil War is going to be one of them. For the longest time, Alex Garland was known and praised for his breathtaking writing skills which would make his projects stand out from the rest. This includes the film that gave Cillian Murphy his big break into mainstream Hollywood – 28 Days Later (2002).
Just a decade ago, Alex Garland decided to test his skills as a director and somehow managed to hit the ball out of the park on his first go with Ex Machina. And now, the critically acclaimed filmmaker is back with yet another masterpiece. Hey, don’t take it from us; take it from the audience who just cannot stop praising the man.
Alex Garland’s Latest Film Has the Audience Going Gaga Over Him
The dystopian action film, Civil War, is all set to hit theatres next month and the audience already cannot stop gushing over it. Those critics who had the privilege of watching the film before everyone else have nothing but praise for Alex Garland and his work.
The film stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and more. In the film, Dunst plays the role of a renowned war journalist who is a part of a team that travels across America in the midst of the Second American Civil War, hence the title.
Film critic Scott Mantz stated that Civil War is a “f—king MASTERPIECE” and went on to praise the film further. He added that the film will leave the audience with an eerie sense of impending doom that something similar and dystopian might become a reality real soon.
Alex Garland’s “CIVIL WAR” is an absolute fucking MASTERPIECE. A riveting, unflinching, visceral cautionary tale that’s scary as hell. Watching it, one can’t help but feel how close we are to this actually happening, making it a MUST SEE to stop it before it actually does. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/IO66iO0rIU
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) March 15, 2024
Mantz isn’t the only one who was blown away by Garland’s work. Take a look at some of the others who are belting out praises for the film.
Alex Garland’s CIVIL WAR shows that MEN was a one off. He still has the juice. Sound design made for IMAX, cinematography that will have you with your hands over your head, and a soundtrack that fucking slaps. Sorry DUNE: PART 2, this is my favorite of the year. #SXSW #CivilWar pic.twitter.com/j3DP0gvvw0
— aidan @ SXSW (@filmopino_) March 15, 2024
Not only is CIVIL WAR Alex Garland’s best film, it’s his APOCALYPSE NOW.
A staggering journey into the dark heart of a decaying nation that examines the role of journalism, desensitization to violence, and division. Genuinely speechless.
Review coming to @DiscussingFilm pic.twitter.com/a5XJ9V0hLz
— James Preston Poole @ SXSW (@JamesPPoole) March 15, 2024
#CivilWar is phenomenal. Alex Garland’s latest is a wholly consuming war movie. An epic but deeply intimate piece that uses the experience and motivations of a group of military-embedded journalists to highlight the deeply chilling reality of living in a world that never learns.… pic.twitter.com/hWxCYdSSbX
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 15, 2024
Civil War is something special. Alex Garland firing on all cylinders with a beautifully character driven story that refuses to pull back from the harrowing & senseless realities of war. This film left me shaking. Incredible performances. Thrilling & devastating. I loved it #sxsw
— stoobs (@thejstoobs) March 15, 2024
Alex Garland’s #CivilWar is unlike anything I’ve ever watched. It’s a big, viscous, action-packed war picture from A24, which means it brings with it a richness & depth you don’t get anywhere else. Garland’s best work – flawless cinematography & gripping from start to finish. pic.twitter.com/Opbx5URRmq
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 15, 2024
Garland’s caliber was never a topic of doubt. Whether he’s working as a writer or a director, he has always managed to capture his audience in a manner only some can flaunt. For example, he wrote the script for 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy’s entry into mainstream Hollywood, and a film that put the actor on Christopher Nolan’s radar, essentially turning Murphy’s career around. The film was heavily praised by both critics and fans alike.
On the other hand, Garland’s first try at directing a film ended up earning him an Oscar! The filmmaker came out with Ex Machina in 2014 and the film was nominated for two Oscars at the 88th Academy Awards – Best Original Screenplay and Best Visual Effects. Ex Machina took home the latter award despite being nominated along with films like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Clearly, Garland has a gift that is impossible to ignore.
Alex Garland Talks about Civil War
During a Q&A session at the Paramount Theatre, Garland opened up about his latest project stating that the film leaves room to allow conversation after it ends and gives the audience a penny for their thoughts. He also revealed how easy it was for A24 Films to say yes to him.
Garland stated, (via Deadline),
“The film is intended to be a conversation. It is not asserting things. It’s not a lecture. So, you want to leave space for people to bring their part of the conversation… It was four years ago. I wrote it back then and sent it to A24 and they just said, ‘Yup, all good,” which was surprising. This is a brave film to finance, so it was super appreciated.”
During another interview, this time with The Telegraph, Garland stated that when he creates his projects, he knows how the audience will react to them and that Civil War is going to be a film that will p-ss off a lot of people.
“I know when I put something out there if it’s going to p-ss a bunch of people off. The film I’m making now is also going to wind some people up.”
Thanks to the early reviews and the fact that the film is currently sitting at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, we cannot wait to see what Garland has in store for his fans this time around!
Civil War releases in theatres on April 12.
