The PR machine for Alex Garland’s “Civil War” is in full gear.
The first comments were things like “Masterpiece!”
But I’m told the film, starring Kirsten Dunst, is not exactly that. It will be talked about, but it’s “disturbing and violent,” according to my spies.
“What if Trump were re-elected and the country split in two?” asks my insiders. “That’s what it’s about.”
Is it an Oscar film, I asked? Emphatically “no.” Kirsten Dunst, even? “Probably not.”
“Civil War” opens April 12th. I remember back in the day when “China Syndrome” was coming out and Hollywood PR made it seem like we were all going to get blown to high heaven by an exploding nuclear reactor. On top of that we then had the real life situation at Three Mile Island — the nuclear power plant went into meltdown ten days after the movie opened. Suddenly, theaters were packed.
Will “Civil War” scare people into making sure Trump isn’t back in the White House? I sure hope so. But will it cause violence now? That would be a shame all in the name of box office. Let’s hope everyone keeps a cool head — audiences and reviewers, and accept “Civil War” for what it is.
