-New Urban CINEMA- Premiering In German Theaters TODAY: Viola Davis Brings Heists, Husbands, & Hutzpah to Critically Acclaimed Action Thriller, "WIDOWS"
 |
| (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox) |
In the second big female-driven Hollywood heist film of the year (just months on the heels of Warner Bros. hit caper, Ocean's 8), 20th Century Fox releases the critically acclaimed, action-packed thriller Widows in Germany today- starring Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis (Fences) and Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson (Schindler's List). The film is directed by Academy Award-winner Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave).
Widows is based on the 1980s British TV series by the same name. In the story, Viola Davis plays Veronica Rawlins, a middle-aged widow overwhelmed by mourning the death of her husband Harry (Liam Neeson), whose demise happened as a result of botching a multimillion-dollar robbery with three partners. Previously unaware of her husband's activities, Veronica soon learns that Harry’s intended theft targeted an aspiring politician named Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry). During an intimidating confrontation, Jamal informs Veronica that she must pay him back what Harry tried and failed to steal (the money was burned in the explosion that killed him) within one month, or face dire consequences.
 |
| (Courtesy 20th Century Fox) |
Though Veronica feels in over her head, she assembles a crew made up of two of the other widows surviving the aftermath of their husband's deaths (Elizabeth Debicki & "Fast & Furious" star Michelle Rodriguez), along with Belle (UK singer & Broadway superstar Cynthia Erivo), Rodriguez’s young babysitter. It is Belle who enlists herself as the women's getaway driver.
Widows mark a landmark career opportunity for 53-year old Davis at this juncture in her career as an Oscar-winning actress: known primarily for character and supporting roles, the Julliard graduate and 28-year showbiz veteran is having her first chance to be seen as a lead actor in a global film. While known for her strength of presence and intense range of emotion, remarkably, many of Davis's film award nominations have come from roles that have literally equated to a just few minutes onscreen. As her husband and business partner, actor Julian Tennon tells Variety magazine in a recent interview, "She specialized in taking a piece of chicken and turning it into filet mignon", he said of his wife's abilities to create a fully realized characters out of bare-bones screen archetypes. In addition to changing the scope of her career a lead actor, the success of "Widows" can help ensure future funding for the passion projects in Davis's production arsenal, including those that tell stories about women of color in politics and the military. Below, Viola Davis and the cast of Widows discuss the film and share a bit of analysis about their respective characters.
WIDOWS premieres today in theaters across Germany. For showtime and price information at a theater near you, visit kino.de
