Widows Review
- Director: Steve McQueen
- Starring: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson
- Released: November 16, 2018
- Rated: R
- Runtime: 129 min
The Verdict
- The heist is smart, tense and believable, and the four leads are fantastic together. Daniel Kaluuya is a standout.
- A major twist is revealed too early, which takes some air out of the finale. A big-name actor is wasted in a tiny role.
Synopsis
Full Review (Spoilers)
Widows feels like a mix of Ocean’s 11, Set It Off and an old-school heist movie, and all those pieces mashed together make it a very good watch.
The best part is watching these four women pull off the job. It mirrors how their husbands did it at the start, and it feels believable: they’re new to this, but with the plans left behind and their own skills and ingenuity, it’s possible. As the trailer says, no one expects them to pull it off, and that’s what makes it so satisfying. Daniel Kaluuya is a standout, playing a layered and genuinely menacing character, and the way all the crime families and politicians connect is fascinating to watch unfold.
My one big issue is how the movie handles a major twist. It’s revealed halfway through instead of being saved for the end, so you spend the rest of the movie waiting for it to pay off instead of being surprised. Saving it would have made for a much more dramatic finale. A well-known actor also gets killed off in the first 10 to 15 minutes, which seemed like a waste.
Listen to My Audio Review
Widows (2018) Cast and Details
Widows (2018) is directed by Steve McQueen and stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo and Colin Farrell. It runs 129 minutes and is rated R. You can look up the full cast and crew on IMDb. You might also like my Creed II review.
DC's Hypothetical Corner
Let’s say I change one thing. Maybe that one thing will make this movie better or more watchable.
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