Title: Black Widow
Year: 2021
Director: Cate Shortland
Country: US
Language(s): Misc.
For many years fans demanded a solo Black Widow movie, and Marvel didn't give it to them because Studios believed that movies starring women wouldn't make a lot of money (even though Gone with the Wind is the highest grossing movie of all time adjusting inflation) I felt, until recently, they didn't treat the character with respect. In Avengers: Endgame she sacrificed herself and didn't even get a funeral. "She's dead? Oh well, move on." Thankfully a solo movie finally came to fruition.
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson) confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.
Black Widow is a pretty dark film for the Disney Marvel Cinematic Universe. I have never any of these superhero flicks actually address such a horrific issue such as human trafficking. This one does in a fairly tasteful manner (not downplaying it) , with a great sense of urgency. The film does best at provoking one's attention when it maintains the atmosphere of being a serious thriller akin to the Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The film also does a good job at making Black Widow a far more important member of the MCU. Too often does she sit in the sidelines or is just forgotten about until a convenient moment. Unfortunately a lot of the character's screentime takes a backseat to her less interesting family members. Scrapes of the fatphobic jokes from Endgame seep into the pictureand ruin otherwise poignant moments. Florence Pugh, while great, outshines our main character in every scene they are in.
Despite these flaws, Black Widow is a great MCU film with a strong message & makes me wish the character could have lived past Endgame. This film is far more subtle in its feminism than the other female led MCU film Captain Marvel and, due to being more of a spy film than a 90's nostalgia picture, far more entertaining.
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