Widows

2018 heist movie

Rating: 14/20

Plot: Widows use comprehensive notes left behind to pull off a heist in a corrupt Chicago.

Of the two female-driven heist movies from 2018, I prefer this Steve McQueen flick. There's definitely a lot more going on in it. You've got a narrative involving corrupt politicians that is almost as important as the widow heist storyline. And you've got the heist storyline which, if you're a heist movie aficionado in this to see a heist intricately planned out and executed, might disappoint. And you've got some half-told, more personal stories of the characters that are told with snippets of information or in flashbacks. It's a lot to take in, probably why there's not much room for those Oceans-type moments where the crew is sitting around a table and planning and wisecracking.

There are a lot of effective moments--a car chase with a single, intense perspective; a tense moment with Viola Davis's dog; a really nice driving shot where Colin Farrell and his paperweight have a conversation with the camera showing two sides of Chicago and gives us a peek at an individual overhearing the conversation. Though the interweaving narratives aren't always completely engrossing or believable, the performances always keep this interesting. Davis is very, very good with what's she's given, but the character isn't very consistent. Less consistent are two other members of the widows crew although both Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki are fine. Daniel Kaluuya is a presence, and Brian Tyree Henry's also good. And it's nice to see that Robert Duvall isn't afraid to be this despicable this late in his career. Oh, and Liam Neeson is in this, too. He spends almost every scene with his lips on Viola Davis.

With all the divergent parts, this is surprisingly by-the-book. It hints at bigger ideas involving race, female empowerment, and political corruption, but none of it really sticks as McQueen is more interested in the twists and turns of the story. I guess I expected more.