Post by mikef6 on Dec 13, 2018 6:14:53 GMT
Widows / Steve McQueen (2018). Caper films are usually something of a light-hearted romp in which charming thieves get their own back from an even badder Bad Guy. This year’s other female lead caper, “Ocean’s 8,” fits this bill exactly and is very entertaining for it. Steve McQueen, however, working from a script he co-wrote with Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) takes a much darker tone with a much more complex tale of human greed and betrayal. The strikingly edited opening switches back and forth between four men saying goodbye to their wives and the robbery they are involved in going wrong in every way it can – resulting in all the husbands being killed. Soon, Veronica (Viola Davis) is visited by Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry) who tells her that her dead husband Harry (Liam Neeson), the crime’s leader, had robbed two million dollars from him and the money was destroyed when the escape vehicle exploded and burned. Manning, a gang leader in a predominately African-American neighborhood, is trying to go straight and is challenging Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell) for alderman of Chicago’s 8th district. He needs his money to mount his campaign. He gives Veronica a month to raise two million to pay him back, even though she knew nothing of her husband’s plans. Following a lead, Veronica finds a notebook that Harry kept which gave detailed instructions for future crimes. Veronica finds the other widows (played by Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Carrie Coons) to join her in a robbery to raise the money with plenty left over for them. Coons backs out (later, we learn why) but soon they find Belle (fast rising star Cynthia Erivo) to be their driver. The stakes are high. The danger great. Each woman has to find something inside herself to get her through this experience. McQueen tightens the tension and doesn’t let loose until the end. I predict multiple Oscar nominations for acting, directing, editing, and maybe Picture.