Viola did an absolutely terrific job, as well as Daniel Kaluuya and Cynthia as well, for the short time she was present. Aside from that, all performances were forgettable. The first half of the film was mostly well done - the setting up of desperation, the building of characters, etc. From the actual 'heist' and on, I lost complete interest, as if this was a film I'd seen a thousand times. The characters lost their fire, intensity and drive to do the job. I feel if the beginning of the film was lengthened, some trimming near the actual heist, and cut out the entire end, this would have been a better film. Come to think of it, the entire reveal of Liam Neeson's character should be removed. He added absolutely nothing to any part of the story. The only part where I was full, unbreakably engaged in the scene, was when Jatemme was at the bar, speaking with Welsh, and then stabbing the shit out of him, that is the kind of fucking intensity this film should have used, not conversations with pointless, 1-scene characters (such as the reverend, and maybe Mulligan's father).
It's rather sad that any time I heard a Chicago accent, all I could think about was the movie The Town, which is one of the gold standards of the heist genre. I enjoyed remembering that movie more, than watching this one.
Now a heist movie with Neeson AND Bernthal? That's something I want to see.
Unique storyline that probably could have been approached more lightly, or even as a comedy, but glad it wasn't. The result is a decent crime drama. Wish it would have gone further into the crime's prep and execution, of which both seemed to come up a little short on their potential.
It felt like this was almost something more than its premise, but never quite achieved that goal. I think the writing was the weakest link here.
I was so excited for this movie, but it fell short. The film was reaaaally slow and even though it gave it a different style from most heist movies, in the end, it was just really underwhelming. Giving it an 8 solely for Vi, Daniel and Elizabeth, who were all amazing.
8/10
I’m just glad the dog lived.
I've seen 17 minutes of the movie and it was not interesting at all. Haven't finished, wouldn't recommend.
good cast but alow moving and boring the end was suprising, but the movie felt like i watched this before 100 times.
I've got to admit that I was somewhat disappointed with this movie, though that could well be due to the fact that I had unreasonably high expectations for it. I loved the trailer, the premise, and the cast. I was prepared for this to be my favourite movie of 2018.
Unfortunately... that didn't happen. Other than a great premise and a fantastic viola Davis performance, there wasn't as much to sink my teeth into as I was expecting.
The heißt itself is fairly uninteresting, which would be forgiveable if the other plot threads worked better. But the movie ultimately feels like a connecting of side stories, none of which are fully explored.
There is a "twist" near the end that was so obviously going to happen that it cheapened the movie. At least the way it's resolved is somewhat satisfying.
Ffffffinally...a real chick flick
A decent crime drama that explores the aftermath of what such a life can cause for loved ones. It's a little too drawn out though and follows far too many threads, that become convoluted and hard to follow at times. Solid cast, giving great performances. It is not the remarkable breakthrough that reviews would have you believe though...
Incredibly overlooked masterpiece. Spoke to me so much when I saw it. It's thrilling, interesting, intense, terrifying, immensely relevant and dramatic all at the same time, complete with performances, a script and direction that is 100% Oscar worthy. Very upset this is being overlooked by the Academy. Favorite of 2018.
The blu-ray comes in tomorrow, I dont think I've ever been so hyped in my life.
Well, I liked it, it is well taken the story of these widows who fall a dead on that they did not expect, Michelle Rodriguez with the face of always, the others do better. I've seen Colin Farrel better than other times
I was lucky to have seen the original series all those years ago on itv uk!
This film version is okay, I went into as a whole new story and believe me did my best to forget the original......
The characters are watered down to the original and at no point did I feel connected to them or rooting for them!
If you haven’t seen the tv show, your love the film, I just liked it!
But it’s given me a reason to go back and watch the original and maybe hope that a new tv version comes along and based back in the uk with actresses that are super strong hard nosed bitches playing the parts.....
This movie clearly wanted to be a HBO mini-series. It's still a good watch, just the pacing is a bit weird.
Slow and boring as hell! I don't know why this is a 7. Do yourselves a favor and skip this one. Thank me later.
Great actors. Great director. Great script writer. So why the hell was it so bad?? Lots of plot holes. The whole thing just felt wrong.
wasn't expecting it but a good movie..
Looks amazing, but tries to cover too many issues, and the plot is laughable
Operating firmly within a genre framework, the film essentially tries to filter the basic heist template through a feminist pseudo-:pound_symbol:MeToo prism, taking in such side-issues as political corruption, police homicide, Black Lives Matter, institutional racism, American gun culture, hegemonic masculinity, and the importance of wealth. The problem, however, is that it tries to pack far too much into too short a space of time. Whilst I can certainly appreciate and celebrate how progressive the narrative is, placing a black woman at the centre of a genre traditionally dominated by white men, the film still needs to work as a genre piece, or no amount of moralising, didacticism, polemics, or political grandstanding can save it. And this is where Widows fails most egregiously – the core genre elements are as far-fetched and ridiculous as anything you're likely to see out of mainstream Hollywood, which serves to undermine and dilute the serious topicality for which it is obviously striving.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/yRett
The cast of this is insane. It also proves again that Gillian Flynn is an excellent writer, the story has quite a unique take on the usual crime thriller. However, as already mentioned by other people, this probably would’ve been better as an HBO miniseries, it would allow for its story and mosaic of characters to breathe a lot more. The version we have here can be quite the challenge to keep up with, and I really wouldn’t have minded if it were longer and more fleshed out (I really don’t get the complaints about it being boring). Still, this has plenty of memorable moments and it gets to the heart of some important socioeconomic issues. It’s more of a crime drama than a heist film, so don’t expect a lot of fireworks. McQueen knows how to use the camera as a tool to communicate visually, so some important cues aren’t spoonfed through dialogue. His biggest achievement as a director with this is probably to draw a good performance out of Michelle Rodriguez. The rest of the cast is also excellent, lots of great emotional scenes where some of them get to show off their chops. Music’s pretty good, there’s one major twist where I like how the reveal is so understated. Overall, I think it’s pretty good, but it was a little overhyped by critics.
7.5/10
Poor adaptation of Lynda La Plante's 'Widows'. Watch the '83-'85 TV series instead, or better still, read the books.
Needs a good 45 minutes cutting out. Has its moments but mostly dull.
What has happened to the world? That normal now passes as excellence? When did we lower our standards? There seems to be no expectation to go above and beyond what one might know, or might want to know. It seems people are blissful in their own ignorance.”
why is the first thing i thought of when i heard that Rodirguez was in this movie and the plot was" What Dom died!!!!???".... like wrong movie
“May a man live well-enough and long-enough, to leave many joyful widows behind him.”
Remember Ocean's 8? Nah, neither do I.
‘Widows’ is an outstanding crime drama from director Steve McQueen. A female driven movie that doesn't glorify itself as such. It's smart and compelling - emotional roller coaster through out. The themes of corruption, politicians, sexism, race relations, privileges, and greed that mirrors society we know. I was hooked from start till finish.
Steve McQueen took something that could’ve been a generic mainstream heist movie, but made it so refreshing. Just like ‘First Man’, it’s a complete departure from his other work, but isn’t too different where you can’t believe he directed it. Plenty of long shots, especially how he directed a freestyle rap with the camera spinning around a group of characters. I thought that scene was brilliantly done. There’s a scene where Colin Farrell drives to his house after a election promotion, but McQueen mounts the camera on the hood of the car and we only hear Farrell’s conversation while nothing is visible - which is all done in one shot. Rather than cutting back or forward, but McQueen isn’t flat. His directing is bold and makes every shot engaging.
How about the cast? It’s something to die for. Everyone manages to get their time to shine. Viola Davis is excellent as usual and the main center of a crowded cast. I love the little details with her character: Like how she always carries around a white fluffy dog almost like a child. She can express grief and the weight on her shoulders and play it effortlessly. Honestly, she’s one of the greatest actress of this generation.
Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo command the screen whenever they are on. Just like Davis, these wife’s have nothing in common, which serves as development in character with different backgrounds. Great to see Rodriguez finally showing dramatic range.
But Daniel Kaluuya scared the sh*t out of me. The intensity in his presence and brutal killings makes him a true threat. Every Time he appears on screen, you know something horrible is going to happen. Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall are so great together, which surprised me to learn that both of they scenes, according to McQueen was completely improvised. Even Liam Neeson, despite the small screen time, but he’s really good and I wish he did more dramatic work than any other ‘Taken’ movie.
The other cast members are also great, but we’ll be here for days when naming them off. I could go on forever.
Han Zimmer’s score is nothing short of haunting. Gloomy with a heavy theme of loneliness. However, it picks up pace when the heist shifts in gear and everything from there is tension after tension. The beats gets higher and eventually becomes untamed.
For issues: There’s not a lot for complains. Although if I have to pick. Since there’s so much going on, it can sometimes interrupt the flow. Other than that, that’s really it.
Overall rating: I really struggled to catch a breath.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Rather than it being a simple "girls can do whatever boys can do movie" it was elevated into something more. Much of this was done in the last part of the movie and especially in the last few seconds of the film. Women can do what men can do and they can do it in their own way. Viola Davis is the heart and soul of the film - she is always amazing.
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I find myself a bit torn on this one. As a heist film it's definitely a lesser film. As a film that tries to subvert the standard macho heist formula, it's a bit better. As a film that deals with loss, race in politics, dependency, and desperation, it's pretty good. If this were, say, lengthened into a Netflix miniseries or multiple movies so that the various aspects of the story could breathe, it likely would have been so much more impactful. As it stands, it feels rushed at times (especially the last 1/3) and that there was more meat that you could have sunk your teeth into. That being said, it wasn't bad; it just felt like it could have been so much more.
Enjoyable movie. Good twists and turns.
All the ladies are excellent. Suprise twist towards the end.
It's a pretty good film but, thanks to its tv series orgins, it's a little bloated and patchy in places. Still, the cast are great, so for that reason alone the film is worth a watch.
As a film in its own right its good but it's not a patch on the original British TV series. The problem is the pacing. Even though it's almost 2.5 hours long there's too much to tell in the timeframe. So much so, that it should have been a limited series on HBO, Amazon or Netflix. The actors are all great though and I thought Viola Davis made a good "Dolly". That said, I've added the original series to my Amazon Prime watchlist for next week.
the hardest part too reconcile at the beginning of the movie is that you just don't believe Liam Neesom's character "loves his wife". ride it out. this a sleeper movie. one that starts confusing and slow, including Liam's what appears to e bad acting.
but then like sleeping it wakes up, pulls you in and you are there hoping a lot of the jerks get their just rewards. wait for it.
the great cast and the story are presented fantastically. Steve McQueen did a great job.
so at first you aren't believing Liam Neesom's character is "in love with his wife". it seems to see the whole movie to be ruined. just ride it out. it's a sleeper movie, seems to start slow and confusing, and then pow. you're engulfed thinking how much all these different jerks need their just rewards. some of them get them. ride it out. it's worth it
good story good cast but it just went on and on
Movie starts a little slow and then picks up as it progresses and understanding come into play. Lots of interesting twists and turns keeps you glued to the tv.
This movie is a mess and the story is a mess with major plot holes. So many plot holes that it's impossible to suspend disbelief.
Released in the same year as Ocean's 8, this heist movie takes a more grounded approach to all-women heist group. The premise is simple: what would widows of deceased criminals would do to survive after their husbands' passing? Yet it is executed masterfully.
Where other heist movies aspires to get the money for fun and wealth, they do it for survival. No need to be said that it's a crime thriller movie.
The all-women cast was performed very well; despite characters not interacting to each other in intense, dialogue-laden moments, every characters are very well established. Part of it is thanks to great performances, especially Viola Davis' (Veronica). The all-women cast was also utilized to its maximum potential, making the characters being women matter: going through the hardships a widow of a criminal would do.
The movie attempts to portray a violent-ridden Chicago through glimpse of tension: police brutality, interracial marriage, and facades of "minority empowerment" (that is more than meets to the eyes). Characters are introduced quite plenty but not underused. Smallest details matter.
There is a rather expected twist towards the end, but the way it ends up was done in unexpecting way. In a heartbreaking moment, Veronica decided to kill off her husband that she's been mourning all the time, that she's already went without her husband anyway. Considering the way the women's attempt on survival throughout the movie, the way the twist was done ascend "empowerment" to a completely different level.
That said, the film started with a bit of odd pacing. Some supposedly emotional moments could be cut a bit shorter. 30 minutes pass and it's all good though.
Very worthy to be watched.
this was surprising good i was shocked at how much i did like it Viola Davis was so beyond awesome then to find out that her husband was the one that got his people killed and was still alive the other girls was awesome as well
A bit of a difficult one to rate. It's very good in places, with some excellent camerawork and high tension, and the performances are tremendous (Daniel Kaluuya and Viola Davies especially). But the plot borders on that of a ridiculous action film. I was expecting more of a drama, so maybe that's my shortcomings and not the film's.
All said and done it's probably a decent popcorn heist action flick.
Slow movie. The heist itself is already on another 100 movie type. It get better with some drama on killing people by Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (the best in movie), but then it fall into the excpectation. Great cast, but thats it.
Viola Davis is superb on this one! A terrifying yet masterful performance by Daniel Kaluuya too. An overall for the movie is that all the heist plot felt short and rushed. Still, the twists are shocking and I personally loved Elizabeth Debicki’s role, tormented by the one and only Jackie Weaver who deserved more scenes on this one.
When will Elizabeth Debicki step on me while wearing those heels?
Great cast with great performances especially Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya. Really enjoyed the concept and the execution. This movie is very entertaining with some twists and turns it's also surprisingly moving, really good.
Well acted but a bit too slow at times to be Heat with women. While David Kaluuya steals the show even if Viola Davis is more likely to get nominated.
Amazing film. Bad heist. I wanted a heist film with black women. I've been wanting this for years. Widows looked like it was gonna give me what I wanted. It did not. And yet I'm not disappointed. I instead got a awesomely acted crime drama that had a heist in it. Viola Davis is going full tilt like she's Taraji P Henson. Michelle Rodriguez I'm still in love with and she's great in this. Honestly I was sold off of those two alone but I can't lie about how great Elizabeth Debicki was and I was not at all prepared for the greatness that is the Nigerian Cynthia Erivo aka my new bae and I hate using that term. But girlfriend is on a whole other level with her intensity. I never saw Bad Times at El Royale but darn if I'm not about to make that my next target. Needle in a Timestack and Harriet are now on my watchlist. I think she'll be a great Harriet Tubman. I've heard of the Recy Taylor story before but now that i know my girl Erivo is in it I might check that out too.
But this film is just a well directed, well acted tense but not pornographically tense action crime drama. Daniel Kaluuya is getting his Dule Hill (Sleight 2017) on and his maniac gangster is great. What I love about this that I didn't like about Sleight (to the point where I haven't finished Sleight yet) is that Steve McQueen doesn't refuse to use extreme violence but he doesn't make you watch it. It's not a gross out scene when people get kill or when bad things happen to people. It's violence that serves a purpose for the story if not the characters and we know it happens but it's not for titilation. I really really appreciated that. It made certain scene in the film palatable when I was worried I would have to look away.
The first sentence of a novel is the most important because it has to grab you where it counts and never let you go. The first 'sentence' of Widows is the image of Viola Davis and Liam Neeson lying in bed face to face, her beautiful black body and his beautiful white one in beautiful contrast with each other.
But then, the film lets go.
McQueen's style is frequently stark and distant, as though he's filming it through someone else's eyes and we're watching it through a stranger's. This tone works well for him during Hunger or especially Shame, where the restraint he demonstrates serves to highlight the raw pain his characters suffer throughout.
But Widows isn't a humanist tragedy. At its core, it is a suspense movie - with much (too much?) personal drama included, to be sure, and far deeper characters than, say, Ocean's 8, but at its heart, it's a movie about a robbery. The problem here is that McQueen has offered us a gift wrapped in paper far too elegant for what's beneath.
Widows is a wonderfully directed film, it's just not a wonderfully directed heist film.
Shift your expectations at the door - This is not an action adventure heist movie, like Oceans 8, yet it is a very good crime film. This is a slow burn drama from the pen of Lynda La Plante (writer of many great female centric UK works, Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren being, perhaps, the most awarded). This is also not the first incarnation of this story - it has been a TV series in the 80s, another movie in 2002 (Mercedes Ruehl, Rosie Perez, Brooke Sheilds and N'Bushe Wright) and is now reimagined with a likewise stellar cast. This movie has gripping emotional depth, great performances, and a story with twists and turns. I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10. [Crime Drama]
A super fun and very well made movie. There are plenty of twist and turns that will surprise throughout. Gillian Flynn wrote a terrific script. There are fantastic performances all around. Viola Davis really owns this movie. Daniel Kaluuya is a standout too. He is so menacing and terrifying. The cinematography is amazing as well. There are a ton of really cool shots and I love how the camera moves, especially when people are in cars. The score is great too. Steve McQueen has another winner. He somehow made an art house heist movie. Everyone needs to go support this so we can get more like it. This is one of the best heist movies in a long time and one of the best of the year.
Shout by schmenkyBlockedParent2019-03-04T23:47:05Z
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
0 / 1 story
.5 / 1 act I
.5 / 1 act II
.5 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
0 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 stays with you
0 / 1 misc
3.5 out of 10