Widows

Movie Name: Widows
Year of Release: 2018

Director: Steve McQueen

Stars: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, Garrett Dillahunt, Lukas Haas, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Coburn  Goss, Molly Kunz, Adepero Oduye, Matt Walsh, Kevin J. O'Connor

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
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Synopsis & Review:

After winning the Academy Award in 2013 for "12 Years a Slave", artist/director Steve McQueen is back, this time around with the adaptation of Lynda La Plante's "Widows" mini-series, which originally made its debut in 1983.The film follows the story of Veronica, Linda and Alice, whose husbands, alongside an additional member, are all killed following a robbery that goes terribly awry. All women have very little knowledge of their husbands dealings and proceedings, but suddenly get thrown into this criminal life, when the people who were robbed, want their money back, and give them a month to do so. The women have nothing to their name, and basically leverage a notebook left behind by Veronica's husband, to set up a heist, which will pay off their debt, and set them up comfortably. As all of them adjust to their lives as widows, the political tissue of the city of Chicago is being played, something that has ties to the occurrences surrounding the failed heist.
Steve McQueen has made a directorial career marked by intelligent and diverse themes, since "Hunger", which put him on the map. "Widows" may be his most commercial endeavor, but it's a film with plenty of layers to savor and digest. It's an interesting treaty on Women (and whatever roles they've been expected to follow in society), the systemic corruption that touches politics, how grief and guilt permeates through relationships and finally, an entertaining (and somewhat brutal), crime caper. The film is also deftly shot, not glamorizing violence, but instead aiming to provide a realistic canvas where all this action and challenging relationships take place. The film benefits from a terrific cast, with Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell (and those eyebrows) and Liam Neeson all creating memorable characters. The cinematography from Sean Bobbitt is impeccable, as is the score from the fantastic Hans Zimmer. A very good film, from a strong voice in cinema.