BLACK WIDOW
2021 | Dir. Cate Shortland | 134 Minutes
2021 | Dir. Cate Shortland | 134 Minutes
"It's funny. My whole life, I didn't think I had any family. Turns out I got two."
On the run from UN forces after violating the Sokovia Accords, Natasha Romanoff confronts her past when Yelena Belova, her surrogate younger sister from her short-lived childhood, brings news that the clandestine organization behind the nefarious Black Widow program that ruined their lives is active and thriving despite Natasha's efforts to dismantle it years ago. To destroy their abusive former master once and for all, Natasha and Yelena must enlist the help of their former parental figures, the erstwhile Red Guardian and a seasoned Black Widow agent.
After playing a significant supporting part in seven Infinity Saga films over nine years, Natasha Romanoff finally gets her chance to take the lead role in Cate Shortland's Black Widow. Interestingly, Natasha's solo feature is decidedly not a thorough exploration of the mysterious character's past. While the film references events that shaped Natasha's life that were hinted at in her previous appearances, such as her dehumanizing Red Room conditioning and her defection from the KGB finalized through regretful actions committed during a mission in Budapest, the focal point of the picture is Natasha's first pre-Avengers found family, a group of deeply flawed but remarkably likeable spies, each operative betrayed by the Red Room in different ways. The picture's central themes of overcoming disillusionment and of reclaiming personal agency are rather empowering if slightly underdeveloped. Iffy Russian accents be damned, the film's greatest strength lies in its supporting cast of appealing newly-introduced characters, particularly Yelena who serves as a more impulsive, more naive foil to Natasha. The genuine bond between Natasha and Yelena at the heart of the story, primarily presented through candid conversations between the two women, is appropriately moving.
The pacing of the film is notably a bit unconventional for a Marvel Studios production. Following an emotionally fraught prologue that offers a brief glimpse into Natasha's teenage years as a young spy in a surprising setting, the narrative slows down and doesn't truly gain momentum until its second act. Natasha, wary from the events of Captain American: Civil War, is understandably hesitant answer the call to adventure and take on another mission. As the plot unfolds, and as the roster of supporting players is gradually filled through introductions that involve inspired set pieces, the picture quickly builds to a high-flying explosive conclusion. Stand-out action sequences include a thrilling vehicular chase through the streets of Budapest, a prison break sequence that culminates with a massive avalanche, the breathtaking climatic mid-air fight sequence, and every confrontation that involves the intimidating Taskmaster.
Coming a long way since the character's debut as a deadly sexpot in Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson is convincingly clever and tough but also more human than ever in what may be the last time she takes on the role of Natasha. Florence Pugh's Yelena is the film's secret weapon, hilarious, believably deadly, and truly adorable. The natural onscreen dynamic between Johansson and Pugh is the very best thing about the film. As the boastful washed-up super soldier Alexei Shostakov, David Harbour plays it broad and delivers a big entertaining performance that's also appropriately touching when it needs to be. While her role is underwritten, Rachel Weisz is brilliantly cast as the master chemist mother-figure Melina Vostokoff. As one of the simpler, shallower Marvel villains, Ray Winstone's Dreykov is amusingly slimy though less than memorable in the grand scheme of things. There isn't much to his character but Rick Mason is a lot fun as Natasha's private contractor friend. William Hurt's presence as Thaddeus Ross only seems to serve as nothing more than a continuity reminder. The cast also features a brief appearance by Olga Kurylenko giving a moving performance as a rather tragic character despite her limited screen time.
Delivering big action spectacle with a wealth of amusing character moments elevated by its phenomenal supporting cast, but offering few significant revelations regarding its central heroine's overall character arc, Black Widow plays less like an essential secret origin story and more like a curious lost episode in the rough life of Natasha Romanoff. For the uninitiated, it would be a superb standalone adventure if it weren't for frequent references to its placement in between cataclysmic events on the timeline of the overarching narrative. For long-time fans eager for nothing more than one last daring escapade with the crafty superspy, the film is a fine, if incomplete tribute to the most cunning Avenger, functioning best as a well welcome passing of the torch.
POST-CREDITS STINGER
While Yelena has an emotional moment visiting Natasha's grave, she is interrupted by her new employer Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who reveals her next target: Clint Barton, presented to Yelena as the man responsible for Natasha's death.
FRAGMENTS
- The opening credits sequence set to Think Up Anger's cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" just doesn't quite work
POST-CREDITS STINGER
While Yelena has an emotional moment visiting Natasha's grave, she is interrupted by her new employer Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who reveals her next target: Clint Barton, presented to Yelena as the man responsible for Natasha's death.
FRAGMENTS
- The opening credits sequence set to Think Up Anger's cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" just doesn't quite work
- Natasha watching Moonraker to relax and saying a cheesy one-liner along with Roger Moore is surprisingly endearing to me, more so than Yelena's fondness for Don McLean's "American Pie"
- As far as origin stories go, the film is a brilliant origin story for the vest Natasha wears in Avengers: Infinity War
- It's incredibly amusing to see David Harbour in a frigid Russian prison as the teaser for the upcoming season of Stranger Things scheduled to be released after this film shows Harbour's police chief Hopper toiling in a Siberian labor camp
- Alexei's insistence that he faced off against Captain America is rather curious as Steve Rogers would have been frozen in ice and Isaiah Bradley was either imprisoned or in hiding during the timeframe when Alexei was an active operative
SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Lorne Balfe "Natasha's Lullaby"
- Olga Kurylenko (Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace)
