Man I love every time an action movie comes out that reminds us the genre can have depth and themes and true character work. That there can be style and practical effects and grounded action. In the wave of the MCU this is such a breath of fresh air. The action is slick but the drama and characterization work in tandem with it to create something truly special. It's a film that is inspirational not in spite of the history but because it acknowledges the history and transforms it and finds a way to make it resonate today. It shows the strength of these women and the culture while not shying away from its flaws. These black women are put up on a pedestal and asked- if not demanded- to stop feeling, that it is weak, a dereliction of duty, and the film gradually repudiates that while never denying their strength or more importantly their humanity.
And the cast gamely rises up to what they're given. Davis obviously shines as the centerpiece, putting decades of experience into a performance that is stoic, aching, charismatic, and raw in equal measures. Some of her delivery and expressions, from a wry smirk to a fond and exasperated roll of the eyes, are so good at grounding Nanisca and making her really feel like a person, just one from a different time. And while I had mixed feelings about Underground Railroad, Mbedu was never one of them, and she shines here as well. The things she can do with her eyes alone are captivating. And Boyega is charming while being hard and pragmatic enough to still keep you guessing where he'll fall. But in a cast of greats, Lasana Lynch still stands out. The charisma she has on display here makes me baffled she hasn't led a franchise yet, put her in everything.
This film is a celebration of black women while never dehumanizing them. It lets us be strong and vulnerable, stalwart and hurting, devoted and loving, in equal measure. And it's a tight, fun time to boot.
Review by Owen SwartVIP 3BlockedParentSpoilers2022-10-11T20:33:08Z
Better than I expected, but not as good as I hoped.
I don't care about the historical inaccuracies. There's no historical epic in existence that hasn't taken some liberties with the details, many far moreso than this.
What surprised me is that, despite Nanisca being top-billed, being the face on the poster, and even being the titular "Woman King", she wasn't the main character of the film. She was a supporting role to the real protagonist: Nawi.
I wish Viola Davis had been given the opportunity to do what she does best: Intense, emotional scenes that don't let the viewers off the hook. But in this piece there simply wasn't a scene long enough for her to sink her teeth into. The few emotionally-charged scenes were shuddering with jump-cuts and dialogue that just pull you right out of the emotion... It was disengaging.
It was great to see Davis in a more physical role for a change though. I was on set for some of the action scenes, and her physicality and professionalism were captivating in person, even if the choppy editing didn't quite tdo them justice on screen.
While Mbedu and Bolger did a fine job protraying it, with excellent on-screen chemistry, I felt that the romance story was just a distraction that could have been dispensed with. That might have bought us a few more minutes of Davis screen time!