Widows (2018)
Rating: 4/5 - Very good, with lots to enjoy
Director: Steve McQueen (15)
Synopsis
Veronica (Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) are three women who have never met but whose lives are soon to collide. Their husbands and boyfriends are part of a bank robbing gang who steal money to support corrupt Chicago officials the Mulligans (Robert Duvall and son Colin Farrell). When their men die during a shoot-out with police, Veronica is visited by Jamal Manning (Bryan Tyree Henry), up against the younger Mulligan at an impending election and from whom $2m was recently stolen, by her husband’s gang.
With only one month set by Jamal for her to repay her late husband’s death, Veronica assembles the fellow widows along with gutsy hairdresser Belle (Cynthia Erivo) as their getaway driver to break into the Mulligan’s house and swipe the cash. Eyes all over the city watch their every move.
Review by Jason Day
Based on an old Lynda La Plante novel, this arresting crime thriller proves to be more than just ‘girls with guns’ but has a real emotional punch, too.
Writer/director Steve McQueen employs his uncompromising style, forcing you to look at sometimes very uncomfortable, violent, worrying things to great effect in what is a highly visual piece.
The best way to grab attention in a movie is to open with something memorable. McQueen’s opening shots of domestic bliss, abuse, love and longing are intercut superbly with the loudest, most visceral of bank robberies. It’s shocking, bewildering and is one hell of a way to start.
He wisely takes his foot off the pedal then, revving things up ocassinally to keep an audience on their toes.
With incredible, believable performances from the magisterial quartet of actresses, this is something you need to check out on the big screen.
For more, read the full review: http://bit.ly/widowsfilm
Cast & credits
Director: Steve McQueen. 2hrs 10mins (130mins). Regency Enterprises/See-Saw Films/Film 4/New Regency Pictures. (15)
Producers: Iain Canning, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Emile Sherman.
Writers: Gillian Flynn, Steve McQueen.
Camera: Sean Bobbitt.
Music: Hans Zimmer.
Sets: Adam Stockhausen.
Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Kaluuya, Bryan Tyree Henry, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Jon Bernthal, Ann Mitchell, Jackie Weaver, Lukas Hass.
Image: 20th Century Fox
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