Widows

Widows

Starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo

Directed by Steve McQueen

The Story:
Veronica Rawlings (Viola Davis) has the perfect life with her husband Harry (Liam Neeson), who works as a bank robber with a gang of friends.  She lives in a high-rise apartment, has a beautiful dog, and always has the best fashions.  However, during one robbery, things go wrong and Harry - along with his crew - are killed in a shootout with police.

Now a widow, Veronica realizes her troubles are just beginning, as corrupt wannabe politician Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry) wants the $2 million dollars Harry was supposed to steal for him, and tells Veronica she has a month to get it.  She gets the other widows together - Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) - after she finds a journal Harry left that includes details of all his past robberies - and one he was planning on doing next.

Veronica leads the girls to plan the robbery, and Linda pulls in her babysitter Belle (Cynthia Erivo) as their getaway driver.  As the girls learn to trust one another and work as a unit, their private lives also change - Linda looses her business, and Alice resorts to being a high-end call-girl to make money.  Meanwhile, Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell) - who was friends with Harry - is also running a political race against Jamal, and their feud boils over to Veronica as well, leading to an explosive heist that's much more than just money.

The Synopsis:
"Widows" had everything it needed to be the runaway Oscar-bait film of the year - an acclaimed director (Steve McQueen, who also directed "12 Years a Slave" which won the Best Picture Oscar), a polished script by "Gone Girl" writer Gillian Flynn, and one of the best ensemble casts of the year, spearheaded by the illustrious Viola Davis.  So why did I say "had everything" instead of "was everything?"  Because the ending left a lot to be desired, an oddly rushed job after a slow-burn thriller that had me hooked from the first minute.  An ending that was so open-ended and unfinished that I was confused why such a brilliant film decided to land so roughly.

Forgetting that for now, let's focus on the many positives the film had going for it.  Most heist movies (such as the "Ocean's" series) are rather light-hearted and filled with humor, but there's none of that in "Widows."  Instead, we're gifted with a highly dramatic, highly symbolic thrill ride that slowly culminates to the big moment, which kept me on the literal edge of my seat.  Much more than just stealing money, these women had a purpose, and they used what others saw as weakness to their advantage, turning them from victims to victors.

The editing in the film is top-notch, which comes as no surprise since it was done by multiple Oscar-nominee Joe Walker (who was nominated for "12 Years a Slave" and "Arrival").  The first moments of the film capture you, as we go from the happy wedded bliss of our main characters to the botched job that caused them to become widows.  The juxtaposition was eerie and memorable for all the right reasons, and the editing never let up throughout.

The story was compelling, thought-provoking, and much more than the sum of its parts.  It's no coincidence that the widows were of ethnic minorities - African American, Latina, and Polish - and also not a coincidence that they were all seen as inferior to the majority rule of the very corrupt Chicago system.  Yet they used this to their full advantage to show that they really are strong, and can really accomplish anything they set their minds to.

The ensemble cast truly excels, and words cannot express how amazing they were.  Viola Davis simply glows, an acclaimed actress who owns the screen with just a look or subtle movement, who can tell an entire story just from a glance.  As the steely, strong Veronica, Davis serves as the glue that holds the foundation together, but not even she is impervious of moments of humanity, and when she breaks down, it causes the audience to do so as well.

Michelle Rodriguez steps out of her "Fast and the Furious" action trope and settles into a nice, dramatic role as Linda, who chooses to help in the heist for her family and get her business back.  She's headstrong and street smart, but also has some things to learn concerning using firearms (in one of the film's few funny moments, we see Linda at target practice, and suffice it to say she would do well as a Stormtrooper).

If there's any actress that could steal the show from the illuminating Viola Davis, it was Elizabeth Debicki.  Her character Alice was one who was continually abused in life - first by her mother (the amazing Jaci Weaver), and then by her husband (the equally talented Jon Bernthal).  She spent her life as a literal and metaphorical punching bag, and resorts to selling her body for money.  Yet as the film develops, she slowly finds her own inner strength, and we see how she finally steps out of the shadows into her own self, becoming an empowered woman who bows to no man.

Equally, Cynthia Erivo gives a commanding - if all-too-brief - performance as Belle, Linda's friend and babysitter who volunteers to be their getaway driver.  Erivo has really exploded on the big screen this year, previously appearing in the equally amazing "Bad Times at the El Royale," and here she also showcases an amazing acting ability that will undoubtedly just be the start of a very stellar career.

When it comes to the negatives of the film, it comes in the form of the other story going on at the same time - a highly contentious race for Chicago's 18th district alderman between Jack Mulligan and Jamal Manning.  Jack has the birthright going for him, as his father Tom was the previous alderman, but Jamal has the minority support and also uses his criminal dealings to better establish himself.  Colin Farrell and Brian Tyree Henry both give great performances, as do Robert Duvall as Jack's father and Daniel Kaluuya as Jamal's sociopathic brother, but it's this story that seems to fall by the wayside near the end, leading to several open-ended questions that have no answers, and that slightly diminish the power the film could've had.  Still, not even this small negative could take away the incredible performances given on screen, with a great mix of editing, sound, and camerawork that are equally stunning to see.

The Summary:
Despite ending on a rather quick note, "Widows" is still heightened by one of the best ensemble casts in years, coupled with a compelling story and excellent use of cinematography that help drive the story home.

The Score: A+