Warning: This article contains spoilers for Civil War.
A “chilling” scene in the blockbuster Civil War in which a “dead-eyed” Jesse Plemons delivers vigilante justice to those he considers “un-American” left moviegoers stunned last weekend.
The dystopian thriller also received high praise from critics and fans alike for its depiction of a country ravaged by violence, led by a despotic Donald Trump-like character.
The film, directed by British filmmaker and writer Alex Garland, grossed $25 million at the US box office last weekend.
In Civil War, the collapse of political discourse has caused conflicts to break out across the country, and interestingly Texas and California joined together to secede from the union.
In the midst of all this, a team of journalists, led by Kristen Dunst, travels to DC to interview the commander in chief, played by Nick Offerman, who is in his third term and who without evidence proclaims that civil society The war is close to finishing.
Cailee Spaeny and Jesse Plemons in one of the most shocking scenes of the film
The strange strawberry-colored sunglasses that Plemons wore were the actor’s choice
Portland police officers chase protesters after a riot was declared during a protest against the murder of Daunte Wright on April 12, 2021 in the city, a scene comparable to the violence seen in the Civil War.
It is revealed that Dunst’s character rose to fame by capturing a recognizable image during ‘The Antifa Massacre.’ No further details are given about the incident, which means we do not know if the Antifa members were massacred or if they themselves committed the massacre.
Along their journey, the group encounters an unnamed violent racist played by Plemons. Dressed in strawberry sunglasses and a military uniform, the unnamed character acts as literal judge, jury, and executioner for those he considers un-American.
“What kind of American are you?” Plemons, Dunst’s real-life husband, asks his group. It is clear that he is the leader of a group of militiamen surrounding the area. Right next to him is a dump truck full of bodies.
Plemons opens fire on anyone whose answer he doesn’t like.
As he is about to point his gun at the youngest member of the group, Jessie, played by Cailee Spaeny, another member of the group bursts onto the scene killing Plemons in his truck and allowing our heroes to escape.
Speaeny said Los Angeles Times that filming the scene with Plemons was “very scary.”
The actor explained that she and Plemons spent most of the day of filming together in character, improvising the scene.
Garland had set up the shot so that no cameras were visible, making it more “immersive” for the actors.
“So you didn’t see any of the crew wandering around in the background eating a bag of chips; you didn’t have a traditional close-up,” he said.
‘It felt very immersive. That stunt sequence was incredible. And when we all got in that car, when Stephen comes and picks us up, God, he felt really real. That whole sequence. The scene, the way it’s written is completely chilling.’
Plemons, who plays an unnamed violent racist, points guns at people while questioning them about their origins.
Civil War takes the form of a road movie: a trunk full of journalists driving from New York City to their date with destiny in Washington, DC.
In the film, Nick Offerman plays a despotic three-term president.
In the past, Trump has made statements about a “third term”
The $50 million film shot in Georgia is the most expensive production from the A24 studio
“The plan is to make a compelling, engaging movie,” Garland said. “And the product of the compelling and engaging film is a conversation
The scene is described as “pivotal” and “terrifying” in several reviews.
One X user described Plemons as having a performance worthy of an “Oscar nomination” despite only being on screen for about 15 minutes.
Another noted that the costume team deserves “big kudos” for “fully understanding the menacing nature of tinted sunglasses.”
“The Jesse Plemons scene in Civil War is one of the all-time great thriller sequences in recent memory. “He’s a great actor for the things he doesn’t do, so many funny facial tics without raising a single voice,” said another.
Garland said in an interview that the outrageous glasses were Plemons’ idea.
Dunst also revealed while promoting the film that the original actor scheduled to play the role dropped out and Plemons volunteered to step in.
His character is not mentioned as a supporter of the president depicted in the film, suggesting that he is a law unto himself.
in a review for Variety, Owen Gleiberman wrote of Plemons’ scene: “For a few moments, the film seems like a reflection of part of America today.”
The Hollywood Reporter Richard Newby wrote that the scene epitomized “our modern political discourse.”
In an interview with Time magazine, Garland said the violent vigilantes were inspired by warlords from regimes like the Khmer Rouge.
Feedback from moviegoers has been largely positive.
There is no clear reference to Offerman’s character being based on Donald Trump, or whether he is a Republican or Democrat.
During a red carpet interview, Offerman explicitly stated that “[the Trump comparison] He didn’t even show up,” according to the Reporter.
He also said that the film had “no relation to any real faction or politician.” That’s what I think is so brilliant about this movie. “Everyone on any side of the aisle or on any faction has a lot to say, and we are all immediately divisive and partisan in our conversations.”
However, during his ill-fated 2020 presidential campaign, Trump openly stated that he was willing to “negotiate” to secure “another four years” in the White House, provided he won that year’s election.
More recently, Trump has said he would be a “dictator” for a day so he could get revenge on his political rivals.
In a review, conservative pop culture site. OutKick’s David Hookstead said he takes “photos on both sides of the aisle.”
‘He is neither liberal nor conservative. He is neither a Republican nor a Democrat. “It’s a war movie about killing, and not just killing random people, but killing your fellow citizens,” Hookstead added.
Although the liberal exit The daily beast he described it as an “explosive warning against a Trump power grab.”
In a damning review, the New York Post Johnyn Oleksinski wrote that Civil War “is no more vital to the discourse than The Purge and is about one percent as entertaining.”
Most fan reactions have been more positive, with most praising the apolitical nature of the plot.
‘The #CivilWar worked for me. I was nervous the entire runtime. Masterclass in tension and haunting sound design. A very convincing point of view from war journalists. Smart decision to keep it apolitical, in my opinion. (Cailee) Spaeny is a star.’
The viewer was not entirely satisfied either.
‘My only cons are some dumb script decisions. A very scary and visceral movie.’
‘Very in the pro #CivilWar camp (the c movie; don’t get it twisted!). There’s no clear ideology to the central conflict, true, but the movie *itself* has a clear ideology, which is what really matters,’ said another.
‘Surprisingly I’m very impressed with #CivilWar. He smartly doesn’t choose a side, leading to a film that only focuses on the journalists and their quest to capture the battlefield. There are some disturbing moments and all the acting is very strong. Really stimulating,” said another viewer.