Heat

BAJAN TV PILOT

from Menelik Shabazz PRO Mature

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Genres: Drama, TV + Series

Duration: 24 minutes

Availability: Worldwide

A pilot Bajan TV drama about love, murder, sex and deceit in a world where all is not what it seems.

Greetings family. For those who have been following my work HEAT is my most recent production and return to drama set in Barbados. The intention was to use the pilot to raise finance for the series. Unfortunately there has been no takers, so rather than weep and moan I have decided to make the pilot available to the public as a video on demand. So you can see a slice of Bajan drama rarely seen. In the hope that there are enough views and downloads to raise funds to continue the series. So take a look and let me know what you think? Please share with your networks to help me raise the funds to make the full series.

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Menelik Shabazz

The 10 Best, No, the 100 Best Films of 2018

by Kam Williams

Kam’s Annual Assessment of the Cream of the Cinematic Crop

10 Best Big Budget Films

1. Crazy Rich Asians

2. Widows

3. Bohemian Rhapsody

4. Green Book

5. Vice

6. Black Panther

7. Destroyer

8. The Hate U Give

9. Love, Simon

10. BlacKkKlansman

Big Budgets Honorable Mention

11. Ready Player One

12. Beirut

13. The Girl in the Spider's Web

14. First Man

15. Superfly

16. Life of the Party

17. Uncle Drew

18. Ben Is Back

19. Incredibles 2

20. The Equalizer 2

21. Sicario: Day of the Soldado

22. The Other Side of the Wind

23. Ocean's 8

24. A Wrinkle in Time

25. Night School

10 Best Independent Films

1. Eighth Grade

2. Monsters and Men

3. Private Life

4. Sorry to Bother You

5. If Beale Street Could Talk

6. Blindspotting

7. Skate Kitchen

8. Assassination Nation

9. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

10. Gemini

Independent Films Honorable Mention

11. Borg vs. McEnroe

12. Tyrel

13. Chappaquiddick

14. Upgrade

15. Bad Samaritan

16. Mid90s

17. Roxanne Roxanne

18. Kings

19. Support the Girls

20. Vox Lux

21. Nappily Ever After

22. Supercon

23. Unbroken: Path to Redemption

24. Samson

25. Midnight Sun

10 Best Foreign Films

1. Revenge (France)

2. Cold War (Poland)

3. Roma (Mexico)

4. Shoplifters (Japan)

5. The Guilty (Denmark)

6. On Her Shoulders (Iraq)

7. The Citizen (Hungary)

8. The Resistance Banker (The Netherlands)

9. I Am Not a Witch (Zambia)

10. The Road Movie (Russia)

Foreign Films Honorable Mention

11. Mirai (Japan)

12. Under the Tree (Iceland)

13. Girl (Belgium)

14. The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl (Japan)

15. Searching for Ingmar Bergman (Sweden)

16. Kinshasha Makambo (Congo)

17. November (Estonia)

18. Lu over the Wall (Japan)

19. A Twelve-Year Night (Uruguay)

20. Suspiria (Germany)

21. Beauty and the Dogs (Tunisia)

22. Tazzeka (Morocco)

23. Summer 1993 (Spain)

24. Ismael's Ghosts (France)

25. Fireworks (Japan)

10 Best Documentaries

1. Active Measures

2. Three Identical Strangers

3. Shirkers

4. Quincy

5. Science Fair

6. Alt-Right: Age of Rage

7. RBG

8. John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection

9. Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes

10. Hal

Documentaries Honorable Mention

11. They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

12. What Lies Upstream

13. The King

14. The Gospel According to Andre

15. The China Hustle

16. Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat

17. Where's Daddy?

18. The Last Race

19. Seeing Allred

20. The Bleeding Edge

21. The Final Year

22. Bad Reputation

23. Love, Gilda

24. Reversing Roe

25. Making The Five Heartbeats

Vice

Film Review by Kam Williams

Christian Bale Morphs into Dick Cheney in Seriocomic Biopic

Who is the real Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) and how did he become the most powerful vice president in U.S. history? Those are the fundamental questions explored by Vice, an alternately hilarious and sobering biopic written and directed by Adam McKay.

McKay won an Oscar in 2016 for his brilliant adaptation of The Big Short, the Michael Lewis best seller chronicling the complicated series of events leading to the stock market collapse of 2007. Nevertheless, he probably remains better known for having previously directed a string of sophomoric comedies starring Will Ferrell including Anchorman 1 and 2, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys. 

 

Despite Vice's relatively-sophisticated subject matter, McKay's comedic roots are showing here. And while all the jokes might prevent the audience from taking the events depicted as gospel truth, the humorous asides serve as a very welcome relief from an otherwise scary tale of blind ambition. They also have the effect of injecting a little personality into a guy who was basically a boring bureaucrat.

The picture's point of departure is Cheney's wayward youth marked by multiple arrests for driving under the influence and flunking out of Yale University. Back home in Wyoming, he finally gets his act together with the help of his childhood sweetheart-turned-wife, Lynne (Amy Adams). She reads him the riot act, making it clear she's unwilling to be married to an underachieving loser like her late father.

Soon, Cheney picks politics as a career path, starting out as an assistant to Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell) in the Nixon Administration. He held a number of other positions before becoming President Ford's White House Chief of Staff.

He subsequently represented Wyoming in Congress for a decade before being appointed Secretary of Defense by President Bush 41. In 1995, he entered the private sector to serve as CEO of Halliburton. 

 

He returned to government when George W. Bush wanted him as a running mate, but only on the condition that as veep he'd be in charge of foreign policy, intelligence briefings and numerous executive departments. Bush 43 agrees, thus completing the unlikely evolution of an uncharismatic political hack into a sinister Machiavellian figure with the reins of world power at his disposal.

Credit the chameleon-like Christian Bale for thoroughly disappearing into his role as Cheney. More importantly, Bale plays him with just the right combination of venom and vulnerability to humanize a complicated character quite convincingly.

FYI, Vice is the third film co-starring Bale and Amy Adams. They both received Academy Award nominations for The Fighter in 2011, as well as for American Hustle in 2014, and will undoubtedly do so again for this equally-impressive collaboration. And you can bank on this seriocomic satire garnering a Best Picture nomination, too. 

 

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for profanity and violent images

Running time: 132 minutes

Production Companies: Plan B Entertainment / Gary Sanchez Productions / Annapurna Pictures

Studio: Annapurna Pictures

To see a trailer for Vice, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g09a9laLh0k

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening Christmas Day 2018

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

Holmes & Watson (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality, drug references and crude humor) Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly co-star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively, in this crime comedy which finds the legendary sleuths trying to stop arch-rival Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes) from assassinating Queen Victoria (Pam Ferris). With Rebecca Hall, Hugh Laurie, Steve Coogan and Kelly Macdonald.

Vice (R for profanity and violent images) Christian Bale portrays Dick Cheney in this seriocomic biopic recounting the ambitious politician's career from Beltway bureaucrat to most powerful vice president in U.S. history. Featuring Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell as President George W. Bush, Tyler Perry as Colin Powell, and Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

American Renegades (PG-13 for profanity, violence and brief sexuality) Suspense thriller about a team of Navy SEALs that goes rogue upon discovering a treasure trove of gold bullion worth billions at the bottom of a lake in Bosnia. Co-starring J.K. Simmons, Sullivan Stapleton, Charlie Bewley and Joshua Henry.

Destroyer (R for violence, sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity) Gritty tale of redemption revolving around a veteran LAPD detective's (Nicole Kidman) attempt to track down the participants in a tragic bank robbery that's been haunting her for over a decade. With Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany and Sebastian Stan.

On the Basis of Sex (PG-13 for profanity and suggestive content) Courtroom drama revisiting a groundbreaking, sex discrimination case argued by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) early in her legal career. With Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston, Armie Hammer and Justin Theroux.

Stan & Ollie (PG for smoking and mild epithets) Bittersweet biopic about Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly) recounting the legendary comedy team's 1953 reunion in Great Britain for a comeback concert tour. Supporting cast includes Danny Huston, Stephanie Hyam and Susy Kane.

They Shall Not Grow Old (R for graphic images) World War I documentary featuring unseen footage and commemorating the centennial of the conflict. Directed by Peter Jackson.

Blacktrospective 2018

by Kam Williams

Kam’s Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Cinema

Best Big Budget Black Films

1. If Beale Street Could Talk

2. Black Panther

3. Green Book

4. The Hate U Give

5. The Equalizer 2

6. Uncle Drew

7. BlacKkKlansman

8. Superfly

9. Nobody's Fool

10. A Wrinkle in Time

Best Independent Black Films

1. Sorry to Bother You

2. Blindspotting

3. Monsters and Men

4. Nappily Ever After

5. Traffik

6. Kings

7. Gemini

8. Roxanne Roxanne

9. Tyrel

10. The Citizen

Best Black Documentaries

1. Quincy

2. The Final Year

3. Where's Daddy?

4. Making The Five Heartbeats

5. The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X

Best Actor (Lead Role)

1. Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk)

2. Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther)

3. John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman & Monsters and Men)

4. Lakeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You)

5. Daveed Diggs (Blindspotting)

6. Denzel Washington (The Equalizer 2)

7. Kyrie Irving (Uncle Drew)

8. Trevor Jackson (Superfly)

9. David Oyelowo (Gringo)

10. Jeffrey Wright (Hold the Dark)

Best Actor (Supporting Role)

1. Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

2. Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther)

3. Daniel Kaluuya (Widows & Black Panther)

4. Russell Hornsby (The Hate U Give)

5. Courtney B. Vance (Ben Is Back)

6. Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible: Fallout)

7. Anthony Mackie (The Hate U Give)

8. Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. (Love, Simon)

9. Shaquille O'Neal (Uncle Drew)

10. Common (The Hate U Give)

Best Actress (Lead Role)

1. Viola Davis (Widows)

2. Kiki Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk)

3. Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give)

4. Zoe Kravitz (Gemini)

5. Sanaa Lathan (Nappily Ever After)

6. Paula Patton (Traffik)

7. Regina Hall (Support the Girls)

8. Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time)

9. Halle Bery (Kings)

10. Tiffany Haddish (Night School & Nobody's Fool)

Best Actress (Supporting Role)

1. Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

2. Letitia Wright (Black Panther)

3. Tessa Thompson (Sorry to Bother You)

4. Lena Waithe (Ready Player One)

5. Regina Hall (The Hate U Give)

6. Aunjanue Ellis (If Beale Street Could Talk)

7. Lupita Nyong'o (Black Panther)

8. Tiffany Haddish (Uncle Drew)

9. Oprah Winfrey (A Wrinkle in Time)

10. Danai Gurira (Black Panther)

Best Big Budget Directors

1. Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk)

2. Ryan Coogler (Black Panther)

3. George Tillman, Jr. (The Hate U Give)

4. Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)

5. Charles Stone III (Uncle Drew)

6. Director X. (Superfly)

7. Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer 2)

8. Ava DuVernay (A Wrinkle in Time)

9. Deon Taylor (Traffik)

10. Tyler Perry (Nobody's Fool)

Best Independent and Documentary Directors

1. Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You)

2. Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men)

3. Rashida Jones (Quincy)

4. Rel Dowdell (Where's Daddy)

5. Robert Townsend (Making The Five Heartbeats)

If Beale Street Could Talk

Film Review by Kam Williams

Barry Jenkins Directs Faithful Adaptation of Beloved James Baldwin Classic

In 1974, James Baldwin published “If Beale Street Could Talk,” a love story, set in Harlem, about a beleaguered black couple's pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Many critics consider the heartrending novel Baldwin's best work, perhaps because of the way in which it humanizes an array of African-American characters ordinarily marginalized and relegated to the shadows of society. 

 

Now, Barry Jenkins, director of 2017's Oscar-winning Best Picture, Moonlight, has brought a faithful adaptation of the revered classic to the big screen. The poignant coming-of-age tale co-stars Kiki Layne as 19 year-old Tish Rivers and Stephan James as her 23 year-old fiance', Fonny Hunt.

At the point of departure, the star-crossed lovers are already behind the proverbial 8 Ball. Narrator Tish informs us that her beau, an aspiring sculptor, has recently been arrested for rape. Then, during a jailhouse visit, she lets him know through the frustrating glass partition that he's going to be a father.

Fonny takes the news of the pregnancy in stride, which is more than can be said for his family, especially his disapproving mother (Aunjanue Ellis) and sisters (Dominique Thorn and Ebony Obsidian). Fortunately, Tish's feisty mom, Sharon (Regina King), is up to the challenge of getting everybody to stop pointing fingers self-righteously in favor of focusing on the blessing of a baby that's coming.

Meanwhile, Fonny's impending trial looms large. For, despite an airtight alibi, he was ostensibly framed by a racist cop (Ed Skrein) capable of cavalierly framing a black man for a crime he didn't commit. 

 

Hope for justice rests with getting the alleged rape victim (Emily Rios) who fingered Fonny at the direction of Officer Bell to tell the truth. But she's moved to Puerto Rico, making the prospect of her recanting in court unlikely, unless Sharon is willing to go to extraordinary lengths in quest of exoneration.

All of the above unfolds in fascinating fashion against a variety of visually-captivating backdrops. Kudos to Barry Jenkins for crafting another compelling inner-city saga, and especially for coaxing a career performance out of Regina King, a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination.

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for profanity and sexuality

Running time: 117 minutes

Production Studio: Plan B Entertainment / Annapurna Pictures / PASTEL

Studio: Annapurna Pictures

To see a trailer for If Beale Street Could Talk, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4m3t3G3Zqc

Ben Is Back

 

Film Review by Kam Williams

Addict Unexpectedly Arrives Home for Christmas in Dysfunctional Family Drama

Holly (Julia Roberts) and Neal (Courtney B. Vance) are raising a family in a quaint country home in upstate New York ostensibly far removed from the sort of woes which plague the inner city. It's Christmas Eve, and we meet Holly in church where she's patiently watching three of her four kids practicing for the Christmas pageant.

However, looks can be deceiving, since missing from the idyllic picture is her eldest child, Ben (Lucas Hedges). For, the troubled 19 year-old has been living at a drug rehab center where he's managed to keep clean for the past 77 days. 

 

But Ben has left the facility without permission to be with the folks over the holidays. And the trouble starts when he breaks into the house when nobody's there upon his arrival. 

 

Understandably, Holly and Neal have different reactions to Ben's return. She naively welcomes her Prodigal Son with open arms. Meanwhile, his African-American stepdad is very skeptical about allowing the addict to stay, pointing out that, if he were black, he'd probably be in prison rather than a halfway house. 

 

Neal's not only concerned about the prospect of Ben using again, but about the welfare of Lacey (Mia Fowler) and Liam (Jakari Fraser), his impressionable, young offspring with Holly. By contrast, teenage stepdaughter Ivy (Kathryn Newton) is well aware of Ben's tendency to relapse, and is dead set against an impromptu reunion.

Unfortunately, headstrong Holly gets the final say. Against her better judgment and Ben's own warning that he can't be trusted, she agrees to a one-day visit. What ensues is a harrowing 24-hour nightmare the gullible mom will come to regret.

Thus unfolds Ben Is Back, a timely cautionary tale written and directed by Peter Hedges (Pieces of April). It stars his son Lucas in the title role opposite Julia Roberts who proves quite convincing as a mom in denial who becomes increasingly frazzled over the course of the misadventure. 

 

As chilling a depiction of the suburban opioid epidemic as you are apt to find onscreen.

Very Good (3 stars)

Rated R for drug use and pervasive profanity

Running time: 103 minutes

Production Studio: Black Bear Pictures / 30 West / Color Force

Studio: LD Entertainment / Roadside Attractions / Lionsgate

To see a trailer for Ben Is Back, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9NdYktzfE

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening December 21, 2018

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

Aquaman (PG-13 for action, violence and some profanity) Jason Momoa stars as the legendary DC character in this origins tale which finds the reluctant superhero forced to face his destiny as king of Atlantis in order to defend the underwater kingdom and the rest of the planet from his power-hungry half-brother (Patrick Wilsson). With Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, Djimon Hounsou and Nicole Kidman.

Ben Is Back (R for drug use and pervasive profanity) Lucas Hedges plays the title character in this coming-of-age drama about a troubled teen who arrives home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve after running away from a drug treatment center. With Julia Roberts, Courtney B. Vance and Kathryn Newton.

Bumblebee (PG-13 for action and violence) Spinoff of the Transformers franchise revolving around the adventures of a young autobot (Dylan O'Brien) resuscitated by an 18 year-old (Hailee Steinfeld) after being found battle-scarred and broken in a junkyard along the California coast. Cast includes John Cena, Angela Bassett, Len Cariou and Justin Theroux.

The Favourite (R for profanity, nudity and graphic sexuality) Olivia Colman portrays Queen Anne (1665-1714) in this biopic revolving around the bitter battle between the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) and a servant (Emma Stone) for the frail monarch's friendship and affections. With Emma Delves, Faye Daveney and Paul Swaine.

Mary Poppins Returns (PG for mature themes and brief action) Emily Blunt assumes the title role in this musical sequel which finds the magical nanny reunited with the now-grown Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) in the wake of a family tragedy. With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep.



Second Act (PG-13 for profanity and crude sexual references) Fish-out-of-water comedy about a 40 year-old sales clerk (Jennifer Lopez) who lands a dream job she isn't qualified for with help of a doctored resume. Cast includes Milo Ventimiglia, Vanessa Hudgens and Charlyne Yi.



Welcome to Marwen (PG-13 for violence, profanity, mature themes, disturbing images and suggestive content) Fact-based drama about a transvestite (Steve Carell) left with amnesia after a violent, bias attack who tries to recover his memory by building a miniature World War II village in his back yard. Support cast includes Janelle Monae, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger and Eiza Gonzalez. (In English, French and German with subtitles)

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Cold War (R for sexuality, nudity and profanity) Romance drama, set behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s, chronicling the unlikely relationship of a celebrated musical director (Tomasz Kot) and an aspiring, young singer (Joanna Kulig) from a humble background. With Borys Szyc, Agata Kulesza and Cedric Kahn. (In Polish, French, Russian, German, Italian and Croatian)

Swing Kids (Unrated) Musical drama, set at an American POW camp during the Korean War, revolving around a rebellious prisoner (Oh Jung-Se) who forms a tap dancing team with the help of a guard (Jared Grimes) who once worked on Broadway. Cast includes Ross Kettle, Hye-soo Park and Matthew Darcy. (In Korean with subtitles)

They Shall Not Grow Old (R for graphic images) World War I documentary, directed by Peter Jackson, featuring unseen footage and commemorating the centennial of the conflict.

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening December 14, 2018

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

 

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

The Favourite (R for profanity, nudity and graphic sexuality) Olivia Colman portrays Queen Anne (1665-1714) in this biopic revolving around the bitter battle between the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) and a servant (Emma Stone) for the frail monarch's friendship and affections. With Emma Delves, Faye Daveney and Paul Swaine.

If Beale Street Could Talk (R for profanity and sexuality) Adaptation of James Baldwin's classic novel, set in Harlem, revolving around a pregnant teenager's (Kiki Layne) efforts to free her fiance' (Stephan James) falsely accused of rape. With Regina King, Teyonah Parris and Colman Domingo.



Mortal Engines (PG-13 for action and violence) Post-apocalyptic sci-fi about a fugitive assassin (Hera Hilmar) who joins forces with an outcast (Robert Sheehan) and an outlaw (Jihae) to lead the resistance when the city of London morphs into a giant predator on wheels. With Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang and Leila George.



The Mule (R for brief nudity and sexuality, and pervasive profanity) Clint Eastwood directed and stars in this crime thriller about a broke World War II vet who unknowingly agrees to transport $3 million in cocaine across Michigan for a Mexican drug cartel. Ensemble cast includes Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Laurence Fishburne, Alison Eastwood, Taissa Farmiga and Dianne Wiest.



Roma (R for profanity, graphic nudity and disturbing images) Upstairs/downstairs drama, set in Mexico in 1970, chronicling a year in the life of a middle-class family's maid (Yalitza Aparicio). With Marina de Tavira, Carlos Peralta and Marco Graf. (In Spanish with subtitles)



Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG for action, violence, mature themes and mild epithets) Animated reboot of the Marvel Comics franchise revolving around the adventures of a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) from Brooklyn, who is a half-black/half Puerto Rican teen. Voice cast includes Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas Cage, Zoe Kravitz and Chris Pine.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Capernaum (R for profanity and drug use) Coming-of-age tale about a young Lebanese boy (Zain al Rafeea) who sues his parents (Fadi Yousef and Kawsar Al Haddad) for neglect while serving a 5-year sentence for attempted murder. With Yordanos Shiferaw, Cedra Izam and Nadine Labaki. (In Arabic and Amharic with subtitles)

The House That Jack Built (R for nudity, profanity, grisly images, sadistic behavior and disturbing violence) Matt Dillon plays the title character in this suspense thriller about an architect/serial killer reflecting upon each of the murders he had painstakingly-planned over the course of his 12-year spree. Supporting cast includes Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough. (In English, German and Italian with subtitles)

The Second Time Around (Unrated) Romance drama about a couple of senior citizens (Linda Thorson and Stuart Margolin) who fall in love upon meeting at a retirement home. With Alexis Harrison, Jayne Eastwood and Don Francks.

The Wedding (Unrated) Romance drama, set in NYC, about a virgin bride-to-be (Nikohl Boosheri) who has no idea her orthodox Muslim fiance' (Sam Abbas) has a gay lover (Harry Aspinwall). With Hend Ayoub, James Penfold and Mihir Chitale. (In English and Arabic with subtitles)

Widows

Film Review by Kam Williams

The Windy City Serves as Setting for Adaptation of Brit Crime Series

Widows was a British TV series which enjoyed a two-year run from 1983 to 1985. Created by legendary English author Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect), the popular crime show was nominated for a BAFTA award in the Best Television Drama category. In 2002, ABC turned Widows into a four-part miniseries starring Brooke Shields and Rosie Perez, but that substantially-revised overhaul failed to resonate with the American audience.

Now, Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen (for 12 Years a Slave) has brought a much more faithful adaptation to the screen, although the setting has been shifted from London to Chicago. The crime caper revolves around a trio of widows who opt to follow in their late husbands' felonious footsteps in the wake of a botched bank heist.

McQueen assembled an A-list ensemble featuring Oscar-winners Viola Davis (for Fences) and Robert Duvall (for Tender Mercies), as well as nominees Liam Neeson (for Schindler's List), Daniel Kaluuya (for Get Out) and Jacki Weaver (for Silver Linings Playbook and Animal Kingdom). The impressive cast also includes Colin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez.

Not long past the point of departure, veteran bank robber Harry Rawlings (Neeson) masterminds a robbery in which he and his partners perish. Trouble is, Harry died indebted to a couple of South Side mobsters (Kaluuya and Brian Tyree Henry) to the tune of $2 million. 

Given a month to come up with cash (or else), Harry's widow Veronica (Davis) hatches a plan to raise the money by burglarizing a safe in the mansion of a well-connected family headed by corrupt, Windy City Alderman Tom Mulligan (Duvall). To that end, she recruits a couple of the other grieving widows (Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki) and a getaway driver (Cynthia Erivo) with promises of a multimillion-dollar payday.

The plot proceeds to thicken in convincing fashion while touching on such timely themes as politics, loyalty, race and class. Since it would be a crime in itself to spoil the ensuing developments even one iota, suffice to say McQueen slowly ratchets up the tension in a searing, multi-layered suspense thriller not to be missed.

With the help of a delicious script expertly executed by a coterie of her talented co-stars, the incomparable Ms. Davis steals the show and delivers yet another Oscar-quality performance. Vintage Viola!

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity

In English and Spanish with subtitles

Running time: 129 minutes

Production Studios: Regency Enterprises / Film4 / See-Saw Films / New Regency Pictures

Studio: 20^th Century Fox

To see a trailer for Widows, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN2yBBSRC78

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening December 7, 2018

 

 Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

Mary Queen of Scots (R for violence and sexuality) Saoirse Ronan plays the title role in this costume drama based on John Guy's best-selling biography chronicling the charismatic monarch's turbulent reign. With Margot Robbie, Gemma Chan and David Tennant.



Schindler's List (R for profanity, sexuality and some violence) 25^th anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning biopic about a German factory owner (Liam Neeson) whose altruistic heroics during World War II saved 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust. Cast includes Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes and Caroline Goodall. (In English, German, Hebrew and Polish with subtitles)

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Ben Is Back (R for drug use and pervasive profanity) Lucas Hedges plays the title character in this coming-of-age drama about a troubled teen who arrives home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve after running away from a drug treatment center. With Julia Roberts, Courtney B. Vance and Kathryn Newton.

Central Park (Unrated) Genre-bending horror flick about a half-dozen, high school BFFs who end up on the run from a knife-wielding, hooded executioner when they decide to spend a night partying in the park. Ensemble cast includes Grace Van Patten, Ruby Modine, David Valcin and Nicole Balsam.

The Charmer (Unrated) Romance drama, set in Denmark, about an Iranian refugee (Ardalan Esmaili) desperate to seduce a woman who can solidify his immigration status. Featuring Susan Taslimi, Lars Brygmann and Soho Rezanejad. (In English, Persian and Danish with subtitles)

Clara's Ghost (Unrated) Paula Niedert Elliott plays the title character in this dysfunctional family dramedy as a woman who finds solace in a supernatural spirit when she gets fed up with her self-absorbed relatives. With Chris Elliott, Haley Joel Osment and Bella Bracken.

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes (Unrated) Warts-and-all biopic chronicling the rise and fall of the late, longtime chairman of Fox Television/adviser to Presidents Reagan, Bushes 41 and 43, and Donald Trump. Featuring commentary by Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly.

Great Great Great (Unrated) Romance drama about a couple (Dan Beirne and Sarah Kolasky) whose blissful relationship starts to fall apart after they get engaged. Support cast includes Richard Clarkin, Lindsay Leese and Ian Fisher.

The Great Pretender (Unrated) Romantic romp, set in NYC, revolving around a French playwright (Maelle Poesy-Guichard) who falls for the star (Keith Poulson) playing her ex in her stage version of their failed relationship. With Linas Phillips, Esther Garrel and Julian Grady. (In English and French with subtitles)

Swimming with Men (Unrated) Mid-life crisis comedy about a miserably-married and jaded accountant (Rob Brydon) who gets a new lease on life when he joins an all-male, synchronized swimming team. Supporting cast includes Rupert Graves, Thomas Turgoose and Adeel Akhtar.

Tyrel (Unrated) Jason Mitchell portrays the title character in this fish-out-of-water drama about an African-American who feels uncomfortable being the only black person attending a lily-white, weekend birthday party in the Catskills. With Christopher Abbott, Trust Arancio and Max Born.

Vox Lux (R for profanity, drug use and graphic violence) Musical drama, set in 1999, chronicling the transformation of an aspiring singer (Raffey Cassidy) into a pop icon with the help of her manager (Jude Law) and songwriter sister (Stacy Martin). With Natalie Portman, Jennifer Ehle and Christopher Abbott.