Black Widow (2021) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: Cate Shortland
Written by: Eric Pearson
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz
Runtime: 133 min
Synopsis: Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), aka Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
This might come as a shock, but despite living in a world where viewers were used to receiving a bunch of Marvel movies every year, Black Widow is the first film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in two years. Literally, the last time fans sat down on a big screen to watch MCU content was for Spider-Man: Far From Home, released July 2nd, 2019, which closed the decade-spanning overarching story known now as the Infinity Saga. The current Phase Four is the first to include TV series, and so far, two shows have already premiered and finished (WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), while Loki has its finale next week. Therefore, expectations were as high as they could be.
If there's one character across the entire MCU saga who undoubtedly deserved a solo movie, Natasha Romanoff is the only right choice - sorry, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Fans have demanded an origin flick for one of the original six Avengers for years, and even though this isn't an introduction to a new character or even a proper prequel about the protagonist's early days, it's close enough. Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome) didn't have an easy task since the main mission of this movie is to honor an iconic hero that impacted and inspired infinite people. Viewers want to know more about Natasha and have some answers about her mysterious, intriguing backstory, but most of all, audiences desire a respectful homage to a worthy hero.
Mission accomplished. Eric Pearson's (Godzilla vs. Kong) screenplay might follow an unsurprising route - Taskmaster's identity is easily deciphered way before the hour mark - that leads to yet another hollow, cliche villain, but it handles the female characters with the care and admiration they deserve. From Natasha's emotional quest to close a dark phase of her past to Yelena Belova's (Florence Pugh) complex feelings regarding her "sister" and their "family", both characters receive wonderful treatment. Scarlett Johansson's (Avengers: Endgame) portrayal of the fan-favorite hero will be hard to forget, so audiences should really appreciate the immense luck that is to get to see her one last time interpreting a role that she mastered over the years.
Johansson is absolutely phenomenal once again as the most famous non-superpowered Avenger, but Pugh (Little Women) continues to impress me every time I see her in a new film. I still believe Johansson holds the spotlight, but Pugh comes *this* close to stealing it. An outstanding performance from one of the most talented actresses of the 90s generation, who I hope stays in the MCU long enough to become one of the franchise's main faces. Her potential is limitless, Kevin Feige! Acting-wise, everyone else is sublime. David Harbour (Stranger Things) plays Marvel's mandatory funny character with hilarious efficiency, while Rachel Weisz (The Favourite) brings her remarkable experience to interpret a more interesting character.
As I mentioned above, despite this not being a regular origin movie by Marvel's standards, it still features an in-depth exploration of Natasha's life as a Black Widow. Shortland takes the necessary time to set up the primary narrative, employing an adequately slow pacing during the first act and picking it up as time goes by. I struggle to remember a sequence that turns out to be completely irrelevant. Every minute displayed on-screen feels intended to transmit something to the audience, even during the action scenes and in the (award-worthy) opening credits. Pearson delves into how each member of the "family" dealt with that phase of their lives, ultimately becoming the most emotionally investing storyline.
Every character has different feelings about the time they spent together, something that comes heavily into play throughout the film, resulting in a satisfying payoff. I don't know how people will categorize it, but Black Widow can't really be compared directly to any other MCU installment. Despite the narrative structure resemblances, it's not truly an origin flick, nor it possesses the same objectives. Shortland is able to deliver a unique piece of storytelling within a franchise filled with (successful) formulas, which is something I seriously didn't expect. It's the best compliment I can give this movie: it manages to be something different, even if it's not telling a ground-breaking story.
Action-wise, I'm glad about what the stunt coordinators and visual effects artists come up with. The choreographed fighting sequences carry tremendous energy and excitement, despite the occasional choppy editing (Leigh Folsom Boyd, Matthew Schmidt) and shaky cam. Exceptional stunt work makes the viewers feel every single contact, elevating the overall action. Some scenes hold heavy CGI, but it never really crosses the line, maintaining excellent quality throughout the entire runtime. The third act features two incredibly riveting sequences, ending the film on a high note. As usual, Lorne Balfe's (The Tomorrow War) score is essential to give that extra epic atmosphere to the massive set pieces.
Final Thoughts
Black Widow beautifully honors the iconic Natasha Romanoff, who finally receives the respectful, worthy solo film that her unforgettable legacy always deserved. Cate Shortland and Eric Pearson put together an MCU installment that doesn't really compare to any of the other origin flicks, profoundly examining the protagonist's dark past and her complex "family" through distinctly compelling storytelling. Scarlett Johansson shines one last time, interpreting the most impactful role of her career, but Florence Pugh comes close to stealing the spotlight by giving an absolutely phenomenal display. Boasting highly entertaining, mostly well-filmed action sequences, the main narrative follows a path with no surprises, as well as a generic villain, but the emotionally investing storylines regarding Natasha's personal motivations and Yelena's complex feelings keep the film remarkably captivating. The ending is as satisfying as I could have ever wished for. A loving farewell to a hero that inspired millions of viewers.
