Widows is a 2018 drama set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, where four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
News flash: Steve McQueen continues to prove that he’s one of the most talented and outstanding filmmakers in the industry. Known for making the amazing Academy Award-winning drama 12 Years a Slave, he now brings to the audience an intriguing and suspenseful heist film titled Widows. It stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo in the lead roles, while also having Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya and Liam Neeson as the supporting cast. It’s a fascinating story of these four women, who are the wives of criminals dead from a mission, and they have to finish up the heist these men have been tasked to complete. If they don’t do it, their husbands’ crime boss is going to hunt them down.
The cast shines from start to finish, and they all have memorable scenes that showcase them as talented actors. Davis is most definitely the one who shines throughout the movie, and her performance is absolutely phenomenal. As it begins to introduce her character, you completely understand where she’s coming from right from the get-go. Whenever she talks on screen, she’s able to grab your attention right away. Her chemistry with the other three women is great, and their bond with each other is one of the best parts of the entire film. Debicki is a scene-stealer in one particular scene, so it shows that McQueen does a good job making sure that none of the main actresses get left out. They all have different personalities with one another, which allows these characters to stand out. Seeing them plan their heist together as a team is intriguing, and it certainly pays off as you’re watching it being developed. However, while Liam Neeson’s character is undeniably interesting whenever he appears in the movie, it would have been a lot more compelling if he has some more screen time.
The premise seems simple, but it’s actually quite complex. The film is incredibly well-paced with each scene serving its purpose to the overall story, and McQueen’s script perfectly balances all the important elements such as grief and suffering without ever making it feel convoluted. He takes his time for the audience to know these characters and understand the pain these women are going through in their lives. While it is a heist drama, don’t expect it to be an action thriller. This is a character-driven story about these four people being ambitious and moving on from their own personal issue, while still being a suspenseful film.
Widows is another outstanding drama from the filmmaker Steve McQueen, and he has the skills to make the audience care about his characters and the pain they’re going through. With a great script and fantastic performances from the cast, it is simply one of the best films of the year. It is absolutely extraordinary.