We, as humans, remember the shots taken by journalists more than those taken by soldiers. I’m in disbelief that I saw this in IMAX & got to hear the thoughts from the main cast and director immediately after. Civil War is still my favorite film of the year, visually and audibly; the soundtrack choices, the writing, the acting, the cinematography, and THE PURPOSE! The last act is so anxiety-inducing. You couldn't find a more ideal usage of sound in any other film this year. The most disturbing images are usually attributed to the growth of Lee (Dunst) and Jessie's (Spaeny) relationship, as you can see very early on that their paths are as simultaneous as they are similar. Despite Lee and Joel (Moura) being selfishly headstrong in their aspirations, they still show signs of wariness for their stowaways, Sammy (Henderson) and Jessie. It would be best if you did not relate to our two lead characters' attitudes; however, you still can support their desired outcome when you place them in a dystopian environment like this.

To the people who don't get that this film is designed to be apolitical, I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for you that this world is so relatable to ours that you believe it should've 'picked a side.' This film is a conversation piece for the ages. Horrific ambiguity is the point. You're supposed to take this to heart & think about it, and ponder, "What if? How did they get there? What could've happened? What could bring Texas and California together in such a manner?" I think those two states couldn't be more opposites, so where did America go wrong? We know what kind of president we're dealing with immediately. It's not meant to speak on current American affairs because it is built up to be a world that we, as Americans, have never experienced.

Instead, it romanticizes the imagery of war. Imagery, press, propaganda, all war tools. Our species have proven these elements to be some of the biggest instruments of war. We see the traumatic, obsessive commitment of 4 journalists traveling from New York to D.C. to do something that, in this world, hasn't been done in well over a year. It's a horrifying depiction of an oppressive world, which has a beauty that most war films can never dream of possessing. Its direction is both thought-provoking and exhilarating. You can feel the desensitization happening right before our very eyes. It's harrowing yet familiar. With our age of information and the rise of social media, mitigating our anxieties from the repulsive shit we see daily has become part of our code. You either lessen the feeling by avoidance or by tolerance. This film depicts the latter TREMENDOUSLY!

100/100