If you’ve been wondering when I’ll get around to reviewing Alex Garland’s controversial new thriller Civil War, well… surprise! I did review it — way back on May 3.
I felt compelled to. The more I read reviews from critics I respect, the more confused and frustrated I became with what seemed like impatient reactions and reviews by people who wanted the film to be an explicitly partisan political cartoon. The movie I saw seemed interested in particular characters — specifically, journalists — who have grown in wisdom through their careers but who still have important things (maybe the most important things) to learn. I had to put my own reading of the film into words, and those words differ substantially from just about everything else I’ve read elsewhere.
I wrote that review in answer to an invitation from an editor at Current. And I’m grateful and honored that they would think of me.
My Civil War review was published on May 3. You can check it out here.