Widows (2018)
First screened in September 2018
Director: Steve McQueen. Cast: Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Kaluuya, Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Garret Dillahunt, Lukas Haas, Kevin J. O'Connor, Carrie Coon, Jon Michael Hill, Adepero Oduye, Jacki Weaver, Molly Kunz, Tonray Ho, Matt Walsh, Michael Harney, Brian King. Screenplay: Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen (based on the TV series Widows by Lynda La Plante). Twitter Capsule:
Propulsive Chicago crime thriller; action climax goes off like an IED. Unevenly completes its passes at social critique.
Second Capsule:
Many virtues in the performances, though I had quibbles with even the best ones (Debicki, Davis, I'd say). Didn't love how Kaluuya was used.
Third Capsule:
An exciting layer: Davis gets to go toe-to-toe with Erivo, a black female screen presence as strong as she is. Rarely happens. Craved more!
VOR:③
I appreciate how Widows centers women in a crime-thriller context and its feints at sociopolitical relevance, however uneven.
