Civil War star Kirsten Dunst says film ‘really terrified me’
It’s more than 150 years since the American Civil War, but in Oscar-nominated director Alex Garland’s new film the present-day United States is divided – and the country is at war with itself again.
In Civil War, Kirsten Dunst plays photojournalist Lee who braves the lawless frontlines for an exclusive interview with the president, played by Nick Offerman.
Three years after the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol, it’s easy to draw similarities to current-day US politics, but talking to Sky News, Dunst said that wasn’t what motivated her to take the role.
“Alex wrote this movie before that happened so it’s not based on that and I knew that information,” she said.
“Reading the script, it really terrified me as I was reading it… And so, for me, and in Alex Garland’s hands, I knew that he was going to make something really unique and special, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
She added that, despite the film’s relevance to current-day politics, it doesn’t take sides.
“This movie really allows the audience to bring their own selves into the theatre,” she said.
“It’s not talking about right and left or who is bad or good. It kind of leaves things for the person watching it to bring their own viewpoint.”
Kirsten Dunst in Civil War. Pic: A24/AP
Central to the film is the role that journalists play in reporting.
Dunst’s character is joined by Reuters reporter Joel (Wagner Moura), veteran New York Times reporter Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and aspiring photojournalist Jessie (Cailee Spaeny).
With films like Leave the World Behind, starring Julia Roberts, Michael Sheen’s Welsh uprising series The Way, and now Alex Garland’s latest film, civil unrest and the breakdown of society appear to be in vogue.
For Dunst, this is a product of the media age we live in and journalism’s pursuit of bigger audiences.
Stephen McKinley Henderson. Pic: Murray Close/A24/AP
“I think these stories are about when polarisation gets too extreme and we stop listening to each other,” she said.
“With all the internet, media, all that stuff, it really feeds into it. And so I think that dystopian thing feels like a possibility in some ways.”
In 2021, the Office of The Director of National Intelligence listed violent militias as a lethal domestic extremist threat in the US and the film takes an unnerving look at the product of division.
In Civil War, Jesse Plemons plays a murderous militant who, at gunpoint, asks the journalists: “What kind of American are you?”
Cailee Spaeny, left, and Wagner Moura. Pic: Murray Close/A24/AP
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Dunst, who is Plemons’s real-life wife, plays down the threat of a civil war happening but admits the fear is there.
“I really believe that this polarisation is something that is kind of being said and heightened in a way which makes you believe more and more,” she said.
“And I think that those groups are very small, but also very scary.”
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Civil War as a film avoids taking sides. What it does is make something that for over a century seemed impossible a little closer to reality.
Civil War is in cinemas from 12 April.
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A leading wildlife broadcaster has said he will not be drinking “any more” Heineken after the company felled thousands of trees in one of its orchards.
Chris Packham said the decision to cut the trees on land in Monmouthshire near the border between England and Wales was a “tragic waste of a fabulous resource”.
The BBC reported thousands of apple trees had been cut on 300 acres of land at Penrhos Farm.
The company, which owns Bulmer’s, says it plans to sell the land due to a lack of demand for cider and a surplus of apples.
But Chris Packham, best known for presenting series such as Springwatch, told Sky News that the decision to fell the trees was “immoral”.
“In a biodiversity crisis, I would say it’s bordering on unethical and certainly immoral because resources like that ought to be passed on to people who can use them to enrich wildlife and human life,” he said.
Chris Packham . Pic: PA
Mr Packham added that he was currently teetotal and had been drinking one of Heineken’s alcohol-free products.
“I’m not drinking any more of it, because I just think we want companies in our lives that are looking after our planet and our future and our children’s future,” he said.
“They had an opportunity to do that and they’ve just squandered it, I just think it’s really short-sighted.”
The benefits of orchards, according to the Woodland Trust, include the fact fruit trees age quickly which creates deadwood habitats.
‘Disgraceful’
Fellow broadcaster Iolo Williams is calling for a boycott of the company after the “disgraceful” felling.
“I think that with these big companies, the only way [can make our voice heard] is to boycott them, hit them in the pocket,” he told Sky News.
“Because I do think, I genuinely think, it’s tragic what they’ve done when we could have helped to tackle the biodiversity crisis, the climate emergency, physical and mental health issues.
“All of these could have been helped just by them saying ‘Listen, we’re not going to use it again, why don’t we give it over to the local community?'”
Charles Watson, chair of River Action UK said the catchment of the River Wye needed “every tree and plant available” if its decline had “any chance of being reversed”.
“It is hugely disappointing to see Heineken destroy such a huge volume of natural biomass,” he said.
“Yet again the environment is being sacrificed for corporate profit.”
‘Huge surplus of apples’
A Heineken spokesperson said the company made clear its intention to sell Penrhos Farm, one of two apple farms it owns, in November last year.
“Over a number of years, the cider market has slowed and the yield of apples per acre has increased leading to a huge surplus of apples,” they said.
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The spokesperson added that the apples have “no other use than creating cider”.
“In order to make best use of the land to grow other crops, the bush orchards had to be removed,” they said.
“All the wood is shredded for biomass and the bushes were removed in line with The Wildlife Act.”
The company says it “firmly” remains a cider, beer and pub company and sources all of its apples from around 6,000 acres of orchards in and around Herefordshire.
Line Of Duty actor Brian McCardie has died “suddenly at home” at the age of 59, his family has confirmed.
Best known for playing mafia boss John Thomas ‘Tommy’ Hunter in the TV crime drama, the Scottish star had also recently joined the cast of Outlander prequel, Blood Of My Blood.
His sister confirmed his death on X, writing: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brian James McCardie, beloved son, brother, uncle and dear friend to so many.
“Brian passed away suddenly at home on Sunday 28th April. A wonderful and passionate actor on stage and screen, Brian loved his work and touched many lives, and is gone much too soon.
“We love him and will miss him greatly; please remember Brian in your thoughts.”
She said funeral arrangements would be announced in the days ahead.
No cause of death was given.
McCardie’s agent, United Agents, paid tribute on social media, writing: “We are shocked and so deeply saddened by the tragic news of Brian McCardie’s sudden death.
“He was an actor of such great talent who we were lucky to represent, and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
A statement from Line Of Duty producers Jed Mercurio and Simon Heath and the team behind the hit show, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of Brian McCardie’s death.
“We feel honoured to have worked with Brian on Line Of Duty. Brian was an incredibly talented actor, and the lasting impact he had as Tommy Hunter is testament to the power of his performance.
“Off screen, Brian couldn’t have been more different from the character he played – he was warm, funny and charming. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”
With a career stretching over three decades, McCardie had appeared in numerous TV shows over the years – but it was his role in Line Of Duty for which he was best known.
Tommy Hunter, a criminal boss turned police informant, was one of the show’s original characters, who met a violent end early on in series two.
But Hunter went on to be mentioned in both series three and series five, and was a key player in the nail-biting police corruption whodunnit.
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McCardie, who grew up Carluke, near Glasgow, appeared in an episode of Outlander, playing Sir Marcus MacRannoch, before being cast as the chief of Clan Grant in the forthcoming Outlander prequel.
The show, which centres around the lives of Outlander character Jamie Fraser’s parents, is currently filming in Scotland, according to Starz network.
In Rob Roy, McCardie starred as Alasdair MacGregor, the brother of the title character, who was played by Northern Ireland actor Liam Neeson.
His other film parts include the 2013 adaption of Irvine Welsh novel Filth, which starred James McAvoy, and 2003 period drama Mr Barrington.
McCardie also had roles in 2019 Netflix series The Last Czars, along with prison drama Time in 2021, opposite Sean Bean, and Irvine Welsh’s TV series Crime in the same year.
He also appeared in Sky Atlantic’s Domina, set in Ancient Rome, where he played Roman statesman Cicero.
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