Triple Crown of Acting award winner Viola Davis delivers an incredible performance in director Steve McQueen’s Widows.
Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson), a career thief, and his partners are killed after a robbery goes wrong. Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), a crime boss and aspiring local politician, threatens Rawlings’ widow Veronica (Viola Davis) after $2 million he had been saving for his political campaign against Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell) is lost in the botched heist. After discovering her husband’s notebook, filled with previous heists and a plan to steal $5 million, Veronica enlists the help of Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) and Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), whose husbands were Rawlings’ partners. Pulling off the heist proves difficult as they run into different obstacles while being stalked and harassed by Manning’s brother and enforcer, Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya).
There’s no shortage of heist films, and they are often hit or miss. It’s not my favorite film genre, but I’ve seen plenty of great heist films. Widows plays by its own rules and is driven by an incredible cast performance.
I really enjoyed this film. The cast lineup alone is enough to grab the attention of any potential viewer, and the plot is an intriguing roller coaster ride. However, this isn’t your typical heist film. The film primarily focuses on the events surrounding and leading up to the heist, rather than the heist itself. However, it does not lack intense sequences and suspenseful drama. I found the hiccups the “Widows” faced leading up to the heist to be stressful at times. At some points, I could feel a bit of anxiety for them.
I applaud the entire cast for doing such a great job. Viola Davis is an incredible actress and doesn’t disappoint. I’m not sure I can really say anything here that hasn’t been said before about how incredible of an actress she is. I can say this much: if I could only give one reason to see this film, it’d be Viola Davis’ performance. Kaluuya does an excellent job as the villain. Yes, Jamal Manning is who Veronica owes the money to, but Kaluuya’s character, Jatemme, is the main antagonist. Jatemme is such an evil character and Kaluuya absolutely hits the nail on the head with his performance.
If you enjoy crime dramas or heist films, you need to see this movie. Really, anything with Viola Davis in it should be seen and appreciated for the piece of art it is.
Special Features:
- Widows Unmasked: A Chicago Story (3-Part Documentary)
- Gallery
