“Widows” (2018) – Elizabeth Debicki’s Captivating Crime Classic About Widowed Bank Robbers

Writer/Director: Steve McQueen

Starring: Elizabeth Debicki, Viola Davis and Liam Neeson

‘A Captivating Classic’

Not many actresses in Hollywood have built a legacy as strong as Elizabeth Debicki. Since her rise to recognition in the 1990’s, Debicki has made memorable movies. Whether it be prejudiced lovers, spies facing dangers or bold leaders. Debicki has played many compelling characters. Arguably, Debicki’s strength as an actress has often been her strong commitment to her craft. Debicki has always had an ability to steal the show in support roles with limited screen-time. Through her abilities to construct characters which are compelling, Debicki has built a legacy that’s lasting. An actress which has a strong commitment to her craft, Debicki has become a beloved icon in entertainment. A British icon, Debicki has become an actress thar audiences cherish. Throughout her career, Debicki has made many memorable films that are worth talking about.

I’m a big fan of Debicki and adore all the films which she has made in her career. However, “Widows” is definitely my favourite. Released in 2018, Steve McQueen’s movie offered an engaging portrait of commemorated bank robberies. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s one of the best bank robbery movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an outstanding performance from Elizabeth Debicki, who portrays a woman participating in an intense bank robbery which causes tense tragedy. Ultimately, what makes “Widows” a commemorated crime classic is its strong appeal. Unlike most movies about bank robberies, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about intense bank robberies, there are many strong reasons why “Widows” is worth seeing.

Set in Chicago, “Widows” tells the story about four widows that commit crimes which cause sorrow. Elizabeth Debicki plays Alice, a young woman with dream of achieving success. Alice has always shared a powerful bond with her husband Florek (Jon Bernthal), whom she has always loved dearly. However, Alice’s life goes through a sudden change when her husband is murdered in bank robberies causing disaster. Faced with a dilemma, Alice decided to team up with three other widows to commit a heist causing trauma. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Alice begins to wonder if it’s possible for her to avenge her husband’s murder. Left with nothing but widows to spend the rest of her life, Alice is forced to wonder if she will ever overcome disaster.

Steve McQueen is fascinated with the themes of racial injustice. A legendary filmmaker, he has often made engaging movies about racism causing disaster. With “Widows”, however, the filmmaker created his first ever bank robbery thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of widows committing banks robberies but he succeeded immensely. Using stunning cinematography, McQueen captures a team of widows committing bank robberies causing tragedy. Inspired with Michael Mann’s “Heat”, McQueen captures a team of widows on a mission to commit serious bank robberies using handheld cinematography. For instance, handheld camerawork elevates the bank heist scene. During this memorable scene, Veronica and her team of widows seek to pull off a heist that is frightening. Through handheld camera, McQueen captures the lives of widows facing a dilemma. Handheld camerawork is a tricky technique to employ in movies. As Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” suggested, handheld camera elevates time travel blockbusters. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through captivating visuals, McQueen captures widows that are inspiring.

Another admirable aspect of “Widows” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. McQueen effectively uses production-design to capture lives of widows experiencing a decline. McQueen uses engaging costumes to capture the tensions widows are enduring. Throughout the movie, Veronica‘s costumes showcase her transformation from a hopeless widow into an action heroine. For instance, the costumes elevate the death scene. During this unforgettable scene, Veronica grieves the sad loss of her husband in a bank heist causing a tragedy. Through strong costumes, McQueen creates a team of widows that audiences can easily relate to. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Hans Zimmer’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that widows robbing banks bear. Through bold production-design, McQueen captures lives of bank robbers that decline.

Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Widows” is a film about bank robbers that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses sequences of silence which capture widows grieving the loss of husbands in violence. For instance, silence enhances the death scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Veronica is heartbroken left in state of silence after learning about her husband’s grim death. Through bold sequences of silence, McQueen captures the tensions that widows mourning loss of husbands are facing. Silence is often a tricky technique to use in most movies. As Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” demonstrated clearly, silence elevates adaptations of famous books about iconic millionaires. Justin Kurzel’s “Macbeth” suggested silence often enhances William Shakespeare adaptations. However, it works immensely in this movie.

One appreciates amazing performances.

Elizabeth Debicki delivers one of her finest career performances as Alice. Debicki first achieved appreciation for her playing spies facing tragedy. With “Widows”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a widow that grieves loss of lovers in tragedy but she succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her in the past before: intense, charming and funny in her most memorable role. Debicki has often excelled at playing emotional women facing stress, and “Widows” showcased her strength as an actress. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and grief of a widow facing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actresses in Hollywood today.

While the movie is mainly a great showcase for Elizabeth Debicki, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciations. Viola Davis is dazzling, capturing the charisma of a widow seeking to escape bank robberies that cause a dilemma. Cynthia Erivo is captivating, capturing the sorrow of a woman that loses her husband in a tragic accident leaving her a widow. Lastly, Liam Neeson merits recognition. As a grief-stricken bank robber, he brings grim emotion to the movie.

Finally, “Widows” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing female action heroes. Unlike most movies about bank robberies, the movie tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, grief and trauma that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of bank robberies movies to appreciate it. The film delivers a meaningful message regarding grief that resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Widows” is one of those rare commemorated movies about bank robberies causing tragedy everyone will adore.

Fans of Elizabeth Debicki will definitely enjoy “Widows” and so will movie-goers searching for exhilarating entertainment. A spellbinding crime classic, it honours an actress that has built a legacy which is iconic.

Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking crime film about widows seeking vengeance for bank heists that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a fan following for her abilities to portray compelling characters in movies that are worth celebrating.

5/5 stars