Review of Widows by Kathia Woods

It's been a couple of years since we heard from Steve McQueen. His last film was the Academy Award winning "12 Years A Slave". His latest film "Widows" stars the indomitable Viola Davis.

The movie centers around a group of widows whose husbands die in a bomb explosion after a heist. The women are left stranded and penniless. Veronica has the added burden of owning an additional two million dollars.

There are several subplots in this movie. First, this group of criminals is perceived to be a brotherhood. Second, they protected their loved ones. Third, Family loyalty isn't everything. Lastly, there is a public persona vs. private battles. The cast is outstanding in bringing it all to life.

Bryan Tyree Henry has been on a roll lately, and once again he does not disappoint. He plays Jamal Manning, a gangster trying to reinvent himself as a politician. On the surface, he seems polished, but underneath he's ruthless. Speaking of ruthless, Daniel Kaluyya is precisely that as Jamal's brother Jatemme. He's not too impressed with Jamal's new career direction but does the necessary muscle work to get the job done. Kaluyya and Henry are making smart choices with their roles, and it's paying off. Kaluyya portraying someone so despicable was refreshing compared to his other characters. He indeed is one of our brightest talents.

Liam Neeson as a central character doesn't have that much screen time, but this critic was grateful for the fact we finally get to see him in something other than "Taken."

Veteran actor Robert Duvall is steady as always, and Colin Farrell, who is working on redeeming himself from his awful portrayal of Sonny in "Miami Vice", showed that he could still act in spite some appalling choices.

Honorable mention goes to Cynthia Erivo; it was nice to see her take this part. She's a competent actress that also happens to be a phenomenal singer.

The star that drives this movie is the outstanding Viola Davis. She's just amazing. Her character experiences grief, heartbreak, and portrayal in a matter of weeks. She must self-reflect and ask herself if she willingly ignored the danger signs in exchange for a life of privilege. Davis makes us willingly go with her on this journey of self-discovery. She is just this good.

Like many women, she is trying to accept that she fell in love with the idea of a man, not the real man. That seems to be the theme that ties the WIndows to each other. It's bigger than just their men being in this criminal syndicate.

Many were critical of McQueen’s for "12 Years A Slave,", but this movie showed what so many of us knew: that he is a terrific filmmaker. "Widows" can seem slow for some but it's a chess game, not checkers. Be patient, the end is worth it.

Diversity- this movie receives a nine on casting actors of different races, but this indeed was a global affair.

Scale- This movie was suspenseful and beautifully shot. McQueen did not waste one moment of screen time. The overall score is a 8.5.