Widows
for violence, language throughout, and some sexual content/nudity.
Reviewed by: Melvin Godson
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
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| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Neo-Noir Crime Heist Thriller |
| Length: | 2 hr. 9 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2018 |
| USA Release: |
November 16, 2018 (wide—2,803 theaters) DVD: February 5, 2019 |
WIDOWS—What does the Bible say about widows? Answer
Grief
Frustration
Desperation
FEAR, Anxiety and Worry—What does the Bible say? Answer
Sexism
Police brutality
Hypocritical pastors
Husband gambling away the rent money
Cynicism about the world and power in America
Indifference
Politics
Movies that present the world’s problems as a class struggle—rich vs. poor—instead of a sin problem (human depravity) with a solution offered by Christ
Interracial marriage—Is it biblical? Answer
RACISM—What are the consequences of racial prejudice and false beliefs about the origin of races? Answer
Women making crime into a noble crusade
What does Scripture say about STEALING? Answer
Robbery in the Bible
Murder in the Bible
What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Answer
What are the wages of sin?
What is THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF GOD? Answer
THE FEAR OF THE LORD— What is it? Is it important? Answer
Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer
How good is good enough? Answer
Will all mankind eventually be saved? Answer
Domestic violence
Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer
What about the issue of suffering? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer
Did God make the world the way it is now? What kind of world would you create? Answer
Does God feel our pain? Answer
ORIGIN OF BAD—How did bad things come about? Answer
| Featuring |
Viola Davis … Veronica Rawlins Michelle Rodriguez … Linda Perelli Elizabeth Debicki … Alice Gunner Cynthia Erivo … Belle Colin Farrell … Jack Mulligan Robert Duvall … Tom Mulligan Liam Neeson … Harry Rawlings Brian Tyree Henry … Jamal Manning Daniel Kaluuya … Jatemme Manning Jacki Weaver … Agnieska Carrie Coon … Amanda Jon Bernthal … Florek Manuel Garcia-Rulfo … Carlos See all » |
| Director | Steve McQueen — “12 Years a Slave” (2013), “Shame” (2011), “Hunger” (2008) |
| Producer |
Regency Enterprises See-Saw Films [Great Britain] See all » |
| Distributor |
 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company |
Another ugly display of a world without morals
“Widows” is the powerful story of three women whose husbands die during a failed heist leaving behind a massive debt. The people who lost their money don’t believe in write-offs but instead come after the widows to collect. The dead gang leader Harry Rawlings (played by Liam Neeson) was apparently living very well. Harry’s associates assume his widow Veronica Rawlings (played by Viola Davis) has money and they give her just 30 days to pay Harry’s debt or join her dead husband. The only thing Harry left his widow was the plans for his next robbery. Now armed with Harry’s detailed plans for a $5 million heist, the three widows must work together to complete the job and save their own lives.
The film was riveting from almost the very beginning as we watch the men’s failed escape and fiery demise right up to the final conflict. In between we dive into multiple intersecting stories and intertwined connections that keep you in suspense for over 2 hours. The production quality and performances are very strong. Also, there is some great background music from great artists such as Nina Simone and classic Michael Jackson.
From a moral perspective “Widows” is every bit of R-rated for it’s extreme violence, profanity, nudity and sexual content. I stopped counting the profanity after about the twentieth variation of “F You”, “F off”, or F whatever. There are over 100 offensive words in the movie as well as several times the Lord’s name is used in vain. This movie checks the boxes for just about everything that would put a movie into the R-rating range.
Overall, the movie was very entertaining, but completely outside the boundaries of godliness or purity. If your desire is just to see a well-made movie, then you won’t be disappointed. If, however, you are watching only “… whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report…” (Philippians 4:8), if that’s you, then skip this one.
- Violence: Extreme
- Profane language: Very Heavy— • “J*sus f*cking Chr*st” • “J*sus Chr*st” (3) • “Chr*st” • “Oh my G*d” (3) • “f*cking Virgin Mary” • “H*ll” (6)
- Vulgar/Crude language: Very Heavy to Extreme— • “motherf***…” (3) • other f-words (about 60) • “c*nt” • “p*ssy” • “c*cksucker” • “d*ck” • “b*lls” • “a**hole” (2) • “a**” (3) • s-words (30+) • “p*ss” • “b*tch” • “b*stard” • “N*gger” • “Why don't you keep your legs shut?”
- Nudity: Very Heavy to Extreme
- Sex: Very Heavy
- Occult: None
Are we living in a MORAL STONE AGE? Answer
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
The problem I see is we live in a country that is materialist. Women do have a harder time with getting a job and finances can be a struggle, but this movie tells women that if you can get a good paying job, be immoral: rob people, kill people, resort to prostitution. I guess the immoral is what sell tickets.
I just wish that I had read this site before I went. Every shot and scene has several uses of profanity. I guess it is obvious that an immoral movie would have toilet words. I wish Hollywood could find a better way to portray women in a desperate situation besides going for decadence.
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
The entire audience was really into this movie, and I heard a lot of ooh and people say “what' during the movie. I thought the theme of the movie was great it showed how people who are desperate will resort to doing things like being a call girl, work 2 jobs and rob a bank to get money. Their husbands took care of them for years and left them pennyless. Great cast. ***SPOILER*** I like the fact that one of the lady’s mom dictated her life and then the men customers, then she became self sufficient and said no one is going to dictate my life. One woman was very nurturing and helped people-helped her babysitter get money and included her in robbery and helped robber who was shot. Viola was the leader and wanted to help all the ladies. She became softer at the end. Babysitter robber still remained nurturing at end. ***END SPOILER***
This movie reminded me of “Set It Off” where women robbed a bank. Great movie!!!…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5