Director, Steve McQueen brings us a mix bag in Widows.
What is advertised is a caper film in which four women take the place of their lovers, four men who are killed while attempting a robbery. The women find themselves at the mercy of the cops and the bad guys who believe their men owe the organization two million dollars. Each women has burdens to carry, not only are they now alone they need support. Viola Davis” Veronica is the main target and the leader of the women who plot to carry out the plans their men had for a final robbery.
The pressures on the ladies and the path followed to learn the exact operation that was planned is one film. It deals with stress and danger each faces and how they cope. The other part of the film is the caper. Can they plan and execute the daring robbery as it was planned by their partners.
The script is nasty to the city of Chicago. There are no characters that are on the up and up. The political leaders are all corrupt, there is no honor among thieves and therefore no one to cheer or hope for.
The robbery fills only about ten minutes at the ending of the film and is not enough relative to the build up.
Even with a solid cast Widows doesn’t connect.