Widows

     Reinventing the "Heist" film, director and co-writer (along with Gillian Flynn) Steve McQueen continuously surprises us with this enjoyable crime thriller. It is based on Lynda La Plante's original 1986 British TV series.

     The film stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Carrie Coon as the widows of thieves killed in a robbery who must finish the job their husbands started. It co-stars Cynthia Erivo, who joins their gang as their driver, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall as father and son corrupt politicians, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jackie Weaver, , Lukas Haas, and Liam Neeson. It's a terrific cast with standout performances from Elizabeth Debicki as the underestimated member of the "gang" and Daniel Kaluuya as a very menacing criminal enforcer.

      It is a complex film that addresses dirty politics, class struggle, race and female empowerment. And then there's "the heist", which is almost secondary to the story of these women. This is no light hearted "Ocean's 8" but a far more serious look at what motivates the actions of these characters. While serious in tone, it's still an action thriller and fun to watch although it helps to not be critical of the plot holes and easy fixes that occur throughout the film. The few issues I had with the script can be forgiven since Mr. McQueen and his actors work so hard to entertain and enlighten the audience. Mr. McQueen's interesting choice of camera work in many scenes also serves to freshen the way the film is viewed. 

     You might go for the heist but you'll stay for the depth of the clever and deceptive plot.