Dystopian – Matthew Liedke on Film

The Fellowship of the Ring would be like the 96 Bulls if they competed in the event featured here.

That competition is the titular “Long Walk.” A contest where a group of young men keep moving forward at a brisk pace until they physically can’t anymore. The competition exists as entertainment for a dystopian American, which is ruled by a totalitarian regime following a major war.

Should participants not be able to walk anymore, they’re given a few warnings before being killed off by military members. The last one walking receives a huge amount of cash, and can wish for any other prize he wants. The film mainly centers on a pair of competitors, Peter McVries (David Jonsson) and Raymond Grraty (Cooper Hoffman).

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ has more strides than stumbles”

If a fascist regime ever rises up in the U.S., rest assured Texas and California will put aside their differences and the 2005 Rose Bowl to take it down.

That at least is the interpretation of writer and director Alex Garland in his new film “Civil War.” The film picks up in the near future with California and Texas, known as the Western Forces, marching toward Washington to topple the dictatorial third-term president portrayed by Nick Offerman.

The film centers on Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), an experienced photojournalist who’s been to several areas of conflict, and is now reporting on her country’s own inner turmoil. She’s joined by a Reuters reporter, a veteran journalist for the New York Times and a rookie photographer on the way from New York to D.C. to document the war’s ending.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Civil War’ entertains but doesn’t quite captivate”