Based on the novel by Lynda La Plante: in Chicago, Veronica Rawlings (Viola Davis) is threatened by a criminal (with political ties) to come up with money her deceased husband had stolen along with his criminal colleagues, also deceased. Veronica connects with her fellow widows (played by Elizabeth Debicki and Michelle Rodriguez) who are also wrongly presumed guilty (by criminals) due to their deceased husbands's crimes. The women plan a heist of their own to solve their many problems.
The current "woke" mindset could easily misinterpret this story (as it does with so much else) as a Sisterhood Brigade Against The Evil Patriarchy. Thankfully, everyone and everything associated with this fine film are too intelligent to go in this foolish direction.
For one thing, the film is directed and co-written (with Gillian Flynn) by the thoughtful Steven McQueen who has graced the screen with such gems as "Hunger", "Shame", and "12 Years a Slave".
For another thing, the inner circle of women are realistically like their male counterparts in similar heist films: they can't stand each other and they mistrust each other.
The directing is sharp and edgy. Like most other crime films though, the story gets too busy at times and can be difficult to follow but it is comprehensible for the most part (except for the occasional mumbling).
In the principal role, the always-reliable Davis is the right choice to play "the smartest person in the room". She also portrays the film's moral centre - this is almost a contradiction in terms considering that she plays a criminal but in Veronica's case, this is out of necessity.
The ending is somewhat far-fetched but with fine performances from those mentioned plus well known stars like Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Jackie Weaver, and Robert Duvall, "Widows" delivers as fine entertainment.
dbamateurcritic.wordpress.om
The current "woke" mindset could easily misinterpret this story (as it does with so much else) as a Sisterhood Brigade Against The Evil Patriarchy. Thankfully, everyone and everything associated with this fine film are too intelligent to go in this foolish direction.
For one thing, the film is directed and co-written (with Gillian Flynn) by the thoughtful Steven McQueen who has graced the screen with such gems as "Hunger", "Shame", and "12 Years a Slave".
For another thing, the inner circle of women are realistically like their male counterparts in similar heist films: they can't stand each other and they mistrust each other.
The directing is sharp and edgy. Like most other crime films though, the story gets too busy at times and can be difficult to follow but it is comprehensible for the most part (except for the occasional mumbling).
In the principal role, the always-reliable Davis is the right choice to play "the smartest person in the room". She also portrays the film's moral centre - this is almost a contradiction in terms considering that she plays a criminal but in Veronica's case, this is out of necessity.
The ending is somewhat far-fetched but with fine performances from those mentioned plus well known stars like Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Jackie Weaver, and Robert Duvall, "Widows" delivers as fine entertainment.
dbamateurcritic.wordpress.om