[usr 1.5]
Set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common accept a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
Steve McQueen is a director known for his compelling and powerful films, such as “Hunger,” “Shame,” and most notably, “12 Years a Slave,” for which he was nominated for Best Director at the 2014 Academy Awards. “Widows” is his first foray into the action/thriller genre and unlike his previous efforts, sadly, the film all but falls flat. He successfully manages to assemble a top-notch cast including Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Jon Bernthal, and Daniel Kaluuya but even with these phenomenal actors at his behest, most of them are relegated to glorified cameos. Because of this, the weight of the movie falls on the “Widows” themselves, the always reliable Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Debicki.
Because of the enormity of the storyline and the evergrowing intertwining character plotlines, the central narrative gradually becomes ensnared in its own elaborateness and by the movie’s end, you realize that somewhere in there, was a really good story, just waiting to be told.
The film begins with Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson), a bank robber, and his crew, Florek (Jon Bernthal), Carlos (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Jimmy (Coburn Goss), in the middle of a heist. While trying to escape, Florek is shot and wounded but the gang manages to arrive at an empty warehouse where they switch out vehicles. Just as they are about to exit the building, the police arrive and open fire, inadvertently causing an explosion, killing all the men inside. Soon after, Veronica (Viola Davis), Harry’s wife, is contacted by Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), a local crime boss who informs her that her husband and his team stole $2 million from him, which was subsequently destroyed in the explosion that took their lives, and now he wants them to pay him back, otherwise, he will kill their families.
Veronica has never met the other widows before so she decides to call them together for a meeting. She informs them of Jamal’s threat and then proceeds to tell them about a notebook that Harry left behind. In it, are the plans to what would have been his next job, and Veronica states that they have no choice but to follow through so they can get Jamal off their backs and still come out with a little cash. The women are initially hesitant but when one of Veronica’s close friends is murdered by Jamal’s men, they comprehend just how serious the threat is, and realize they have no option but to join Veronica to pay back their husband’s debts.
The premise for “Widows” is intriguing; the wives of a bunch of deceased criminals must pull off what would have been their next and final job in order to pay back debts they left behind and while it sounds good on paper, the final product is anything but. Liam Neeson, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Coburn Goss appear momentarily, from time to time, usually in flashbacks but the majority of the movie is inhabited by the aforementioned widows. Even the great Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell, occupying somewhat larger parts than their deceased male counterparts, are wasted in roles that could have been played by any other actor out there. Their names on the marquee obviously puts bums on seats but in the end, do nothing more than just that.
In the movie’s final act, the filmmakers add what I’m sure they thought was a mindblowing twist but instead, it is one of the most cringe-worthy, embarrassing surprise endings I have ever seen. It completely negates most of what transpired throughout the film up to this point and many theatergoers at the press screening I attended, let out very audible sighs and even some unintentional laughter. Thank God for Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Debicki, they are the heart and soul of the movie and without them, this debacle would have ended up in even worse shape than it already is. As an indie filmmaker myself, I always try to find the good in even terrible movies but aside from the three lead heroines, this film has nothing else going for it whatsoever, no matter how good its intentions were.
In theaters Friday, November 16th
