PIC of the Week – Widows
Article series by Ray Schillaci
This week 20th Century Fox releases the 4K/Blu of Widows, the newest film from director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl). This is a hard film to label because there are so many wonderful facets to it. It’s a great crime drama/heist movie with dashes of political intrigue, race relations and female empowerment. Now, if that last one may turn off some less civilized male viewers, Flynn and McQueen do not hammer home a message. They instead spend more time having us root for these women that were mere pawns of their unlawful husbands, and whose lives are now in danger by association.
How Flynn and McQueen fit it all in so effortlessly is quite remarkable, including making everything feel so real. The film starts off with a literal bang, having our hearts race as we get a quick background on the men and their wives. Once that’s established, we see these women at odds with each other and themselves, now facing the consequences of their husbands’ criminal activities in the present.
To say much more about the story would be a disservice to this film, so I’m going to limit myself. I was as much involved in the heist as I was with these very different women. But, it’s not only the women that are beautifully drawn. Daniel Kaluuya fresh from Get Out and Black Panther is frighteningly spellbinding as Jatemme Manning, the strong-arm and brother of the criminal/politician Jamal Manning, played with a level of coolness and a hint of nastiness by Brian Tyree Henry.
The Mannings want the $2 million dollars stolen from their campaign by Viola Davis’ husband and his crew. Liam Neeson, who we love and hate in this role, plays Rawlings, the leader of the crew that steals the money. Then there’s the man Jamal is pitted against politically, Colin Farrell’s Jack Mulligan. A JFK-type that’s not completely clean, but is conflicted with his families’ rule of the city, starting with his father, played by Robert Duvall.
The film is peppered with stand out performances by the likes of Duvall, Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo, Elizabeth DeBicki, and of course those I’ve already mentioned. Viola Davis goes through an incredible range of emotions as Neeson’s wife and the soon to be head of the “widow” crew. There is a who’s who of familiar faces that add spice to an already dynamic story. In other words, this is one of those films that could easily be considered Best Ensemble in a Drama. But, it’s not all drama. The action scenes are riveting and memorable. I was pretty exhausted by the end of the film.
McQueen and Flynn’s film is actually taken from an ’80s British TV series. They do one hell of a job adapting it to the big screen. McQueen has even brought a cast member from the original series. This is a labour of love and it’s evident in every frame. Kudos out to director McQueen, writer Flynn, and the rest of the cast and crew.
Visually, Widows is a near winner. Shot on 35mm and upgraded to 4K, the film is sharp most of the time. Colors jump out and make this a more appealing product for the 4K viewers whereas the Blu has its limitations. Both versions do have noticeable grain, but it does not hamper the viewing experience. Whether it’s 2160p or 1080p it’s one hell of a show.
Where this film really stands out is the audio. Crank up the sound system to really enjoy either the ATMOS or DTS sound that may have you jumping off the couch at times. Very impressive and immersive. The surround puts you in the middle of it all, and the experience is near breathtaking.
This is definitely one to show friends on movie night. It has practically everything, including an incredibly detailed “Making of.” Now, some may balk at the extras, but that 52+ minutes detailing the entire production delivers far more than most extras on other 4K/Blu. This is what you get:
• Widows Unmasked: A Chicago Story (52:10)
• Plotting the Heist: The Story
• Assembling the Crew: Production
• The Scene of the Crime: Locations
• Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
I highly recommend viewing Widows Unmasked. Fascinating how McQueen, cast and crew put it altogether.
Best Price – $24.96 – Amazon, and if you prefer the big box stores (i.e. Best Buy, Target, etc) and don’t quibble over pennies – $24.99
