"Widows" Storyline Has Holes, Viola Still Impresses

Perhaps Viola Davis can do no wrong on the big screen. Whether she’s showing viewers How to Get Away with Murder, playing a housekeeper, or executing her late husbands robbery scheme - every role she plays - she owns.

Steve McQueen’s direction of “Widows” is impeccable. Just as he did in “12 Years a Slave,” his first frames grab you by the face and tell you how to proceed with watching the film.

“Widows” is about four women coming together to pull off a risky heist. Veronica (Viola Davis) recruits and trains two other women who have lost their husbands in a heist gone wrong along with her husband (Liam Neeson).

While there is action and a great deal of believability to “Widows,” there are unfortunately some holes in the script that couldn’t quite be filled in a two hour and five minute run time. Viewers have to fill in the gaps sporadically, but not enough to be annoyed.

Corruption in Chicago, politics, greed and violence are somehow both undertones and overstated throughout “Widows.” Veteran actor Robert Duvall has a significant role as the father of politician Jake Mulligan (Collin Farrell). Widowed mother and business owner Linda is played by Michelle Rodriguez, who as she often does - brings such brilliance to subtly in her acting.

The exceptional “Widows” cast also includes Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo and Daniel Kaluuya.

Rating: 3.5 stars

-Ari Christine