Read Mixed User Reviews for Widows

5

Brent_MarchantNov 23, 2018

The film's strong cast aside, "Widows" is a cinematic jumble of too many plots trying to fit into one film, coupled with numerous holes in its story and an overall implausibility that's impossible to take seriously. While the action sequencesThe film's strong cast aside, "Widows" is a cinematic jumble of too many plots trying to fit into one film, coupled with numerous holes in its story and an overall implausibility that's impossible to take seriously. While the action sequences are admittedly well orchestrated, they can't make up for a plethora of other shortcomings that derail this offering from being what it aspires to be. In the end, this is yet another example of a vastly overrated release from a vastly overrated director.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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6

clarkaddisonNov 22, 2018

drama film. They don`t always blend perfectly. There are a lot of moving pieces in this film. Twists are revealed in a balloon deflating sort of way. So that there are no twists at the end because of this. Some people phone in their partsdrama film. They don`t always blend perfectly. There are a lot of moving pieces in this film. Twists are revealed in a balloon deflating sort of way. So that there are no twists at the end because of this. Some people phone in their parts while others shine. Mix match of two movies tried to combine into one big thing.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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5

arrivistMar 2, 2019

Looks great, well directed. But apart from the heist scene and a few other moments, it's a bit tedious. With some pretentious camera angles thrown in.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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6

netflicNov 19, 2018

It is a heist film coming from a well known director Steve McQueen who has movies such as "12 Years a Slave" and "Hunger" to his name.
With great actor ensemble (Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall just to name a few, andIt is a heist film coming from a well known director Steve McQueen who has movies such as "12 Years a Slave" and "Hunger" to his name.
With great actor ensemble (Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall just to name a few, and many others) I had high expectations.

While actors were great, acting was mediocre. Script was not believable at all and had plenty of ends that led nowhere. Plus it was cliche after cliche after cliche.
"Politicians and criminals are all the same, be it in Chicago or elsewhere".
"Men are cheaters, especially white ones". "Women are great and strong".
Add to the mix exploitation of racism and bad cops, so fashionable in Hollywood today.

Emotionally I could not connect to any character in the movie.

I expected much, much more, especially with such a great cast and a talented director.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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5

hugoferreiraNov 27, 2018

Am I the only one that thinks that critics nowadays only care about what looks like instead of what actually is? Oh wait, a group of women leaded by a black character making an heist, WOW!! 10 out of 10 so innovative. Nowadays looks likeAm I the only one that thinks that critics nowadays only care about what looks like instead of what actually is? Oh wait, a group of women leaded by a black character making an heist, WOW!! 10 out of 10 so innovative. Nowadays looks like critics are more worried about being politically correct and to not offend anybody instead of giving a proper raw critic (same happened with Black Panther, Moonlight...). Don't get me wrong this movie has potential but it lacks content, has a lot of plot holes and it's a poor attempt of Steve Mcqueen at doing a drama inside a thriller with a society critic in between, and you're left with none. And look the movie it's actually ok, but being acclaimed as if it were something more than it is, it's just hypocrisy. On the other hand amazing performance by Viola Davis.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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4

swimjayNov 25, 2018

A soulless exercise that unreels like a well-oiled machine, with a mind-numbing bag of plot twists, and acting that is always competent, but never illuminating or hinting at anything real, except occasionally, and inconsequentially, in ColinA soulless exercise that unreels like a well-oiled machine, with a mind-numbing bag of plot twists, and acting that is always competent, but never illuminating or hinting at anything real, except occasionally, and inconsequentially, in Colin Ferrel's Jack Mulligan. The cartoonish enforcer played by Daniel Kaluuya we've seen before, but he is genuinely scarey.
Men monstrous and self-absorbed? Check. Women when empowered capable of amazing things? check. The bad guys all lose big time (except perhaps for Colin, who in his best speech could be asking for a way out of the film)? Check. Happy endings for all the women? Check. A feel-good moment of redemption at the very end? Check.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

GinaKNov 23, 2018

A disappointing film, although I am not sure whether the problem is the directing, writing, or editing – or everything. It is certainly not the cast, which is very good and very believable under the circumstances. But things don’t quite makeA disappointing film, although I am not sure whether the problem is the directing, writing, or editing – or everything. It is certainly not the cast, which is very good and very believable under the circumstances. But things don’t quite make sense (it starts right at the beginning with Colin Farrell). There are gaps and jumps – and mild frustration that becomes disappointment. This excellent cast deserves better. Example: Although this is a heist film, there is almost no tension. When the final reveal happens, it seems like a cheap trick (I can’t be more specific in case you haven’t seen the film yet although I am not keeping anything really clever a secret).… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

AcaciaNov 29, 2018

I did not enjoy this movie. First of all, it is soooo long! It takes forever to get anywhere and the violence in it was just too much for me. I do not mind violence if it is directed at the bad guys. Heck, I will jump in and help bringI did not enjoy this movie. First of all, it is soooo long! It takes forever to get anywhere and the violence in it was just too much for me. I do not mind violence if it is directed at the bad guys. Heck, I will jump in and help bring them down! But, this was just too much. I thought this movie got bogged down in the political machinations and took too much away from the women in the story. There were big holes in the plot that even a few twists a d turns couldn’t save. It just was not good for me. Even a great cast cannot save it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

OkinAZNov 22, 2018

Widows story line seemed somewhat disjointed in a few scenes leaving one wondering "what was that all about?" Further, many scenes added no or little value to the movie and could have been edited out, producing a much better overall movie.Widows story line seemed somewhat disjointed in a few scenes leaving one wondering "what was that all about?" Further, many scenes added no or little value to the movie and could have been edited out, producing a much better overall movie. Many solid performances by very good actors/actresses. I thought Viola Davis and Elizabeth Debicki stood out and enjoyed the premise of the movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

tropicAcesNov 16, 2018

The cast is great (Kaluuya really shines) and half of the script has the same popping dialogue as Flynn’s “Gone Girl”. Unfortunately, McQueen gets a little pretentious and/or silly with his half of the screenplay, as well as his direction,The cast is great (Kaluuya really shines) and half of the script has the same popping dialogue as Flynn’s “Gone Girl”. Unfortunately, McQueen gets a little pretentious and/or silly with his half of the screenplay, as well as his direction, creating a film that drags before it picks up.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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6

hnestlyontheslyOct 12, 2019

Widows is a reminder that new stories and excellent storytelling are waiting in the periphery of the male gaze, that the expansion of interesting storytelling comes from widening the types of characters that can tell their stories. It’s hardWidows is a reminder that new stories and excellent storytelling are waiting in the periphery of the male gaze, that the expansion of interesting storytelling comes from widening the types of characters that can tell their stories. It’s hard to imagine anything less from the likes of Steve McQueen (of 12 Years a Slave) and screenwriter Gillian Flynn (of Sharp Objects and Gone Girl, one of my favorite crime thrillers of all time, funny and pulpy and completely mind-bending), but this movie found its place in the gaps between other heist films. It tells its story through the exquisite beauty of adaptation and underestimation, the negation of action hero archetypes, and (as Slate reviewer Dana Stevens notes) thoughtful commentary about tribal politics and gun laws.

Some of the most striking shots are simple ideas like the long, single take shot of the young politician played by Colin Farrell and his aide blowing off steam after a small event, a camera afixed to the hood of the car captures the stark contrast between the neighborhood where he’s campaigning and the one where his campaign quarters are, all the while his monologue about the transactional, futile nature of local politics accentuates the visuals. Farrell’s perennial visits to his political rival’s HQ in a cramped church building punctuate story with beautiful conversational set pieces, like the choral odes of a Greek tragedy.

The actual heist is a bit of an anticlimax, as seems the case with all of the great films of the year (the Sisters Brothers and You Were Never Really Here both employ anticlimax effectively). It’s nice to see the way in which nearly all of the legwork is accomplished by the loan, tall, waifish white woman who makes more money than anyone else going on lavish dinner dates with men she meets online. There’s quite a bit of self-awareness in this script that the racial politics of this film use for comic effect.

David Kaluuya is an excellent villain: the scene in the gym is stunning in its construction and trajectory; his scene work while staking the women; listening to pointed but subtly presented news clips and learning Spanish on tape; the bowling alley. The Twists this movie has in store are pretty impressive. There’s something here for everyone, especially dog-lovers. That white dog better be nominated for an Oscar.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

3ebfan511Aug 12, 2019

Don't waste your time if you are expecting either a good heist movie, or a unique film with anything new to offer. This film is neither and was quite cliche and boring for much of the 2nd half. I am shocked by some of the critic reviews,Don't waste your time if you are expecting either a good heist movie, or a unique film with anything new to offer. This film is neither and was quite cliche and boring for much of the 2nd half. I am shocked by some of the critic reviews, probably because the director has a previous Oscar win. But his previous films he has said each had a personal meaning, and it seems clear, this one had no meaning. There is no concise point, and no reason for the film to even exist. I learned nothing new, was not moved, was not excited much, did not laugh, as the script is very droll, very boring, and much of the characters actions are cliche, the type of thing you can see in any mediocre action or TV show anytime. The only interesting parts were the first 5 minutes, the last 15 minutes, and a few rare snippets of side characters such as Colin Farrell's. If the whole film was about Collin Farrell's character, it might have made for an interesting drama. Instead it is pretty much a cliched heist attempt at a movie, but told through a female perspective, which then adds nothing new to the genre, is less exciting, and with the poor dialogue and directing..it is not worth wasting time watching unless you enjoy mediocre and cliche average action and TV shows. From Steve McQueen and the level of actors and here, and the "positive" reviews, I expected much, much, more, and was disappointed by the end, and quite frankly bored for much of the last hour. Unfortunately, I would have to officially call this a bomb...… Expand