Dir. Steve McQueen (trailer)
Widows is a unique take on the heist genre that includes political and familial battles, as well as a deep look at how gentrification can affect a city and it's people. The film opens with Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) and his gang fleeing after committing a robbery against criminal-turned-politician Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry). The robbery goes disastrously wrong and the entire crew is killed when the police open fire on their van, burning the stolen money along with killing the men.
After grieving and attending her husband's funeral Veronica Rawlings (Viola Davis) gathers together a group of the widows of the men who died alongside Harry. Using a notebook left to her by her husband, Veronica hatches a plan to steal $5 million from alderman Jack Mulligan (Colin Ferrell) in order to pay Jamal Manning back and divide the rest among the widows to better their lives.
As the women train for the heist, the film uncovers many other dark sides to chosen professions of each of the characters. Mulligan runs on platform of reform and creating businesses for women of color within Chicago, but then in a gangster like fashion, requires the women to pay him back for the privilege of owning a business. Manning just wants to be politician so he can semi-legally benefit financially rather than continuing to be an underground crime boss.
Written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, Widows is a thrilling heist film full of twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end.
Rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for fans of: mystery/thrillers, Triple 9 (2016), Hell or High Water (2016), drama, Heat (1995)
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