Widows (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen (Shame, 12 Years a Slave) & co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) offers up a twisty-turny crime caper in 'Widows'. Living in a luxurious penthouse above Lake Michigan in Chicago, sophisticated union organizer Victoria Rawlings (Viola Davis) never paid great attention to her husband Harry's (Liam Neeson) shady dealings until one of his robberies goes terribly wrong & she's left a widow, along with 3 other wives of his crew. In her deep grief, Victoria is confronted by ambitious politician/crime lord Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry, ubiquitous this year) & his psychotic henchman brother, Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya, completely different from his role in last yr.'s Get Out).
Harry owed Jamal $2 million and expects Veronica to provide it in restitution within 1 month or else he'll unleash Jatemme on her. Jamal is in a heated political campaign for local alderman against corrupt Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell), who looks to 'inherit' the seat recently vacated by his aged father, Tom (Robert Duvall). So, left with little-to-no choice but to settle her husband's enormous debt & survive Jamal's bloody wrath, Victoria assembles the other dismayed, penniless wives (Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki) from the heist-gone-wrong & plot a $5 million theft, following an intricate plan that Harry left behind in a fastidiously-detailed notebook {he leaves nothing to chance}. Later, they recruit dauntless getaway driver, Belle (Cynthia Erivo). Everything culminates in a tense heist finale.
This heist/crime drama is based on a 1980s British show, but Steve McQueen adds emotional & sociopolitical resonance; showing America's current state of affairs, warts & all. Despite my questioning (the script) if these grieving widows could truly pull-off their newfound gangster roles, it's clear that the cast is one of the most varied & impressive of the year. Viola Davis carries the weight of a damaged woman thrust into a life-or-death situation with a ticking clock in her ear; all while mourning MORE than her deceased husband. She's fierce, here; commanding. But the grief she exudes is also palpable. Elizabeth Debicki - stellar in small roles over the last few yrs. - shines as Alice, a kept woman who accepts physical abuse, but is also surprisingly cunning & sly when needed to keep her head above water.
Brian Tyree Henry is consistently menacing as the crime lord/political candidate, and Daniel Kaluuya creates a dread-inducing presence every time he pops-up. Kaluuya's Jatemme is a one-note villain, but memorable. Michelle Rodriguez has her moments. Carrie Coon is fine, but underused. Liam Neeson is great, but underused. Tony award winner Cynthia Erivo is enjoyably scrappy. Colin Farrell gives a decent performance, even if his accent went in & out. Robert Duvall has a few magnetic moments; though, he goes over-the-top. Jackie Weaver is fun for a few moments. Garrett Dillahunt is solid; tiny role, here. So, really, while the cast, on paper, is brilliant & effective ... I did have a mixed reaction to some of the performances. One more character to note, though: Chicago. The city's ingrained corruption, street violence & racial/class issues are woven into the plot's fabric exceedingly well.
Having said that, that fabric (corruption, poverty, street violence, religion, race/class issues) + the copious backstories/flashbacks/character studies (of each female, & even side characters) + the planning of-&-execution of the heist + a few twists is ... A LOT. It is a lot for a 125 min. long movie; making me feel like this story might've been best served to a gripping miniseries format. Throw in some plot holes & gaps in logic and it allows for a somewhat choppy viewing experience; even though the film BRIMS with electric scenes, intriguing ideas & some excellent acting. 'Widows' is a grim, cold film that offers chills, thrills, female empowerment, social injustice ... and little fun. If you're not looking for 'fun', but get high on the intense solemnity that blankets every scene of this well-crafted heist film, then so be it. Despite my issues with the film, I was enthralled by many of its strengths.
Harry owed Jamal $2 million and expects Veronica to provide it in restitution within 1 month or else he'll unleash Jatemme on her. Jamal is in a heated political campaign for local alderman against corrupt Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell), who looks to 'inherit' the seat recently vacated by his aged father, Tom (Robert Duvall). So, left with little-to-no choice but to settle her husband's enormous debt & survive Jamal's bloody wrath, Victoria assembles the other dismayed, penniless wives (Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki) from the heist-gone-wrong & plot a $5 million theft, following an intricate plan that Harry left behind in a fastidiously-detailed notebook {he leaves nothing to chance}. Later, they recruit dauntless getaway driver, Belle (Cynthia Erivo). Everything culminates in a tense heist finale.
This heist/crime drama is based on a 1980s British show, but Steve McQueen adds emotional & sociopolitical resonance; showing America's current state of affairs, warts & all. Despite my questioning (the script) if these grieving widows could truly pull-off their newfound gangster roles, it's clear that the cast is one of the most varied & impressive of the year. Viola Davis carries the weight of a damaged woman thrust into a life-or-death situation with a ticking clock in her ear; all while mourning MORE than her deceased husband. She's fierce, here; commanding. But the grief she exudes is also palpable. Elizabeth Debicki - stellar in small roles over the last few yrs. - shines as Alice, a kept woman who accepts physical abuse, but is also surprisingly cunning & sly when needed to keep her head above water.
Brian Tyree Henry is consistently menacing as the crime lord/political candidate, and Daniel Kaluuya creates a dread-inducing presence every time he pops-up. Kaluuya's Jatemme is a one-note villain, but memorable. Michelle Rodriguez has her moments. Carrie Coon is fine, but underused. Liam Neeson is great, but underused. Tony award winner Cynthia Erivo is enjoyably scrappy. Colin Farrell gives a decent performance, even if his accent went in & out. Robert Duvall has a few magnetic moments; though, he goes over-the-top. Jackie Weaver is fun for a few moments. Garrett Dillahunt is solid; tiny role, here. So, really, while the cast, on paper, is brilliant & effective ... I did have a mixed reaction to some of the performances. One more character to note, though: Chicago. The city's ingrained corruption, street violence & racial/class issues are woven into the plot's fabric exceedingly well.
Having said that, that fabric (corruption, poverty, street violence, religion, race/class issues) + the copious backstories/flashbacks/character studies (of each female, & even side characters) + the planning of-&-execution of the heist + a few twists is ... A LOT. It is a lot for a 125 min. long movie; making me feel like this story might've been best served to a gripping miniseries format. Throw in some plot holes & gaps in logic and it allows for a somewhat choppy viewing experience; even though the film BRIMS with electric scenes, intriguing ideas & some excellent acting. 'Widows' is a grim, cold film that offers chills, thrills, female empowerment, social injustice ... and little fun. If you're not looking for 'fun', but get high on the intense solemnity that blankets every scene of this well-crafted heist film, then so be it. Despite my issues with the film, I was enthralled by many of its strengths.