For something a little different today, let’s do a Movie Preview. So I finally saw the massive box office hit Civil War, a film that I had been anticipating with mixed dread and curiosity.
So the movie was very good. I think from a critical perspective, it was phenomenal acting, obviously compelling subject matter and so forth. But for me, the most interesting thing about Civil War was what it didn’t say, it didn’t say the specific motivations behind the war, or give any real background information at all. And throughout the film, I found myself trying to figure out which side each new character we met was on, until I finally realized that’s the whole point. That’s what director Alex Garland was trying to achieve. Garland is by his own description, a left centrist and interviews, he tends to emphasize the centrist element because to him, apparently, the point of both the film and the locus of his anxiety is not as much about politics as much as it is about extremism on both sides. And an interview with PBS garland said, quote, for me, it categorically is a political film. It’s just not choosing a politics of left and right.
I think that if I sat down and asked somebody, why might your country or my country disintegrate into a state of civil war, they would know the answers. I don’t need to spell them out. Those answers surround us. So I felt it would be not just patronizing, but redundant to spell it out.
Look, I am of the opinion that you don’t change anyone’s mind in either direction by yelling at them telling them they’re crazy fascists, what have you. The way you change minds is by finding points of commonality, communicating, above all, listening. And I definitely understand that the extremism of the very far left can be damaging to the goal of unity, perhaps, perhaps even to the goal of progress. But there is a danger to this film again. It’s one I thought was very good and very thought provoking, and I do recommend it. But the thing is,
I can have my disagreements with certain elements of the far left and certain elements of the far right but the danger presented by the two. It’s not an equivalency. A simple peek at gun death statistics in our country shows that the vast majority of mass shooting events have been at the hands of white men, often white nationalists. Only one side of our sadly binary political system is calling for a bloodbath if Trump doesn’t win the next election. So while I do believe, like Alex Garland does, it seems that centrism isn’t just an ideal but probably an imperative. I take issue with the concept that the far left is just as dangerous to our democracy and very selves as the far right. It’s just not a competition.
Related
Jordan Reid
Author; Founding Editor, Ramshackle Glam
View Video LibraryCommentary
Our commentary partners will help you reach your own conclusions on complex topics.
Assassination attempt on Slovakia’s prime minister explained
Yesterday
Peter Zeihan
Will Nigeria become Africa’s first superpower?
Yesterday
Peter Zeihan
Why Putin axed Shoigu
Tuesday
Peter Zeihan
New roles for Russia, North Korea, Iran in global arms trade
Monday
Peter Zeihan
Portraying far-left and far-right as equal in ‘Civil War’ is wrong
Apr 25
By Straight Arrow News
The movie “Civil War,” which depicts Texas and California seceding from the nation to wage war on Washington, D.C., reflects a what-if scenario fueled by memories of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. But as the presidential election looms, discussions about civil war have moved beyond theoretical debates to become a serious consideration among some voters.
Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid analyzes the new dystopian movie in the context of America’s current political landscape.
I think that if I sat down and asked somebody why might your country or my country disintegrate into a state of civil war, they would know the answers. I don’t need to spell them out. Those answers surround us. So I felt it would be not just patronizing but redundant to spell it out.
Look, I am of the opinion that you don’t change anyone’s mind in either direction by yelling at them, telling them they’re crazy, fascists, what have you. The way you change minds is by finding points of commonality, communicating, above all, listening. And I definitely understand that the extremism of the very far left can be damaging to the goal of unity, perhaps, perhaps even to the goal of progress.
But there is a danger to this film — again, it’s one I thought was very good and very thought-provoking and I do recommend it — but the thing is I can have my disagreements with certain elements of the far left and certain elements of the far right, but the danger presented by the two, it’s not an equivalency.
For something a little different today, let’s do a Movie Preview. So I finally saw the massive box office hit Civil War, a film that I had been anticipating with mixed dread and curiosity.
So the movie was very good. I think from a critical perspective, it was phenomenal acting, obviously compelling subject matter and so forth. But for me, the most interesting thing about Civil War was what it didn’t say, it didn’t say the specific motivations behind the war, or give any real background information at all. And throughout the film, I found myself trying to figure out which side each new character we met was on, until I finally realized that’s the whole point. That’s what director Alex Garland was trying to achieve. Garland is by his own description, a left centrist and interviews, he tends to emphasize the centrist element because to him, apparently, the point of both the film and the locus of his anxiety is not as much about politics as much as it is about extremism on both sides. And an interview with PBS garland said, quote, for me, it categorically is a political film. It’s just not choosing a politics of left and right.
I think that if I sat down and asked somebody, why might your country or my country disintegrate into a state of civil war, they would know the answers. I don’t need to spell them out. Those answers surround us. So I felt it would be not just patronizing, but redundant to spell it out.
Look, I am of the opinion that you don’t change anyone’s mind in either direction by yelling at them telling them they’re crazy fascists, what have you. The way you change minds is by finding points of commonality, communicating, above all, listening. And I definitely understand that the extremism of the very far left can be damaging to the goal of unity, perhaps, perhaps even to the goal of progress. But there is a danger to this film again. It’s one I thought was very good and very thought provoking, and I do recommend it. But the thing is,
I can have my disagreements with certain elements of the far left and certain elements of the far right but the danger presented by the two. It’s not an equivalency. A simple peek at gun death statistics in our country shows that the vast majority of mass shooting events have been at the hands of white men, often white nationalists. Only one side of our sadly binary political system is calling for a bloodbath if Trump doesn’t win the next election. So while I do believe, like Alex Garland does, it seems that centrism isn’t just an ideal but probably an imperative. I take issue with the concept that the far left is just as dangerous to our democracy and very selves as the far right. It’s just not a competition.
Related
It’s okay for Met Gala celebrities to avoid politics
During this year’s Met Gala, as some celebrities donned dramatic dresses made of sand or thousands of crystals, there was a noticeable absence of political statements. Some activists on social media responded with a campaign aimed at taking away the platform for celebrities who have refused to use their positions to speak up for people…
Thursday
Why the Trump family is missing from court appearances
Former President Donald Trump is currently attending his Manhattan trial as a defendant facing 34 charges of falsifying business records. Despite this ongoing legal fight, sightings of his family have been rare at the proceedings. While his adult son Eric made one appearance, none of his other children, nor his third wife Melania, have been…
May 9
Careful Left, campus protests will end up benefiting Trump
Protests against the Israel-Hamas war have flared up at universities across the United States and around the world. Some universities resorted to calling the police to break up larger protests, leading to mass arrests at places like the University of Southern California and the use of tear gas in Florida, among others. At the University…
May 2
Portraying far-left and far-right as equal in ‘Civil War’ is wrong
The movie “Civil War,” which depicts Texas and California seceding from the nation to wage war on Washington, D.C., reflects a what-if scenario fueled by memories of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. But as the presidential election looms, discussions about civil war have moved beyond theoretical debates to become a serious consideration among some voters.…
Apr 25
Why I doubt Trump will be convicted in hush money case
Donald Trump is the first former president to face trial on criminal charges. In the first of potentially four trials, Trump entered a plea of not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. These charges stem from a $130,000 payment made to the adult actress and stripper Stormy Daniels, which aimed to keep her…
Apr 18
Underreported stories from each side
NRA and conservative legal group sue New Mexico governor over 7-day waiting period to buy guns
6 sources | 0% from the left
Reuters
House passes TICKET Act targeting hidden concert fees
9 sources | 11% from the right
Getty Images
Latest Stories
Ukraine launches major drone counter-attack on Russian sites
Watch 2:34
19 hrs ago
Honda will use Formula 1 technology in its upcoming EV lineup
Watch 1:35
19 hrs ago
‘Fake eyelashes,’ ‘butch body’: Insults fly in congressional hearing
Watch 2:33
19 hrs ago
Billionaires discuss how to shut down Columbia protests in group chat: Report
Watch 2:47
20 hrs ago
Congress launches probe of UCLA after violence on campus
Watch 2:59
20 hrs ago
Popular Opinions
In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum.
Politicians and Supreme Court justices must have term limits
Yesterday
Dr. Rashad Richey
During Police Week, all Americans should honor fallen officers
Yesterday
Star Parker
Universities must blame themselves for protest hypocrisy
Thursday
Timothy Carney
It’s okay for Met Gala celebrities to avoid politics
Thursday
Jordan Reid