Review by RCR entertainment reporter, Eric Szymanski, follow him on Twitter at @ecmanski
Widows is a heist movie that the Oceans only wish they could pull off. With a stellar cast, excellent cinematography and fierce action sequences, director Steve McQueen nails it right from the jump. We go from being invited into Voila Davis and her husband Liam Neeson’s morning routine to a chase scene that literally cuts to the chase. The thing I liked about this film is that we’re given a glimpse of each of the main characters lives before the events of the job gone wrong which leads us to really invest and care. We see the struggles and deception these women go through while turning a blind eye in order to maintain the lifestyle provided by their criminal significant others. This prompted me to pull for them throughout the entire film. We’re not getting a “hey, let’s go steal some jewelry” plot here. No, we’re getting a “let’s finish what our husbands started because our lives depend on it” type of story here.
There are many themes and subplots happening in Widows. A local election with Colin Farrell trying to preserve the legacy of his family name in Chicago politics as his bigoted father played brilliantly by Robert Duvall, acts more as a deterrent than a guiding mentor. Everything in this film seems to be tied together in one way or another. This is one of the reasons I was invested from start to finish. Everyone on screen serves a purpose. Michelle Rodriguez, who lately has been best known for car chases with Vin Diesel, impressively shows off her range as an actress. Elizabeth Debicki shows up as well here. One particular scene where she’s sent to go gun shopping is a Borat style treat. But the real standout is Viola Davis. Her acting here is a master class on how it’s done. Her screen presence in every scene demands you to listen up and pay attention because something important is about to be said and done. Her character is one I was rooting for in every one of her interactions the entire time.
Steve McQueen, the award-winning director of 12 Years a Slave, really impressed me with the shots, tone and choices that were made. We get a glimpse of what the polar opposite sides of the spectrum the city of Chicago looks like by following a politician’s car ride as he leaves the rundown south side back to the tree-lined street of his mansion. By the time we get to the widow’s heist, we feel like we’re on the mission with them riding in the van. This is not your paint by numbers heist film with shallow characters nor should it be described as simply a “female Taken”. McQueen draws out exceptional performances from every one of his actors. Remember Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out and how frightened he was? Yeah, get ready for him to make you feel uneasy as a relentless henchman in this.
Widows is a fantastic film with compelling characters, timely themes, solid performances and wall to wall action. It also happens to be one of the most satisfying films I’ve seen in 2018.
Grade: A-
About Widows
From Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”) comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. “Widows” is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. “Widows” also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.
Widows Opens In Theaters November 16, 2018
Director: Steve McQueen
Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan
Screenplay by: Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen
Based on “Widows” by Lynda La Plante
Cast: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Garret Dillahunt, Carrie Coon, Jacki Weaver, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo with Robert Duvall and Liam Neeson
Watch the Teaser Trailer: http://Fox.co/WidowsTrailer
Watch the Official Trailer: http://fox.co/WidowsMovie
Meet Belle: http://fox.co/WidowsProblemSolved
Chicago Piece: http://fox.co/WidowsChicago
The Director: http://fox.co/WidowsTheDirector
“Pull This Off” clip: http://fox.co/WidowsPullThisOff
“I Know Why” clip: http://fox.co/WidowsIKnowWhy
Connect with Widows Online:
Visit the Widows WEBSITE: http://WidowsMovie.com
Like Widows on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WidowsMovie
Follow Widows on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WidowsMovie
Follow Widows on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/WidowsMovie
About 20th Century FOX
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Visit the 20th Century FOX WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/FOXMovie
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