Black Widow 2021 Review

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

With an extended version of Avengers: Endgame coming to cinemas this September, Marvel is attracting renewed attention.

Avengers: Doomsday is also scheduled to arrive in December. That gives us the perfect opportunity to continue revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We are working through the Marvel films in chronological order. Our journey now takes us to 2021 and Black Widow.

Moreover, it became the long-awaited standalone film starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff.

This means that the movie was supposed to be one of the important events in MCU. After all, Natasha has been appearing in the franchise since Iron Man 2.

She has become a valuable member of the Avengers. She had never been given a film of her own.

That is why, when making the decision to give her story, it seems to have been well overdue. Unfortunately, Black Widow fails to fulfill this opportunity completely.

It is an enjoyable film in some parts. It features some fantastic action scenes. But the story is confusing.

It also appears to lack coherence to the larger MCU. This film is set after Captain America: Civil War. Natasha is in hiding after the split of the Avengers team.

She eventually becomes involved with her former Russian family. This includes Yelena Belova, portrayed by Florence Pugh.

Also featured in the film is David Harbour, who plays Alexei Shostakov, aka Red Guardian. Rachel Weisz portrays Melina Vostokoff.

Many new characters are introduced. Her childhood as well as her relationship with the Red Room is explored.

The Red Room is the organization which is behind the training of Black Widows. Eventually, Natasha comes to know that the program of theirs is still running.

She then helps in its destruction. This is a promising idea. With Natasha being the focus, the spy thriller could have made a fine addition.

However, the film itself is inconsistent. At some point, the film feels closer to Bourne than to Marvel.

It is not a bad thing in itself. This grounded approach suits Natasha.

However, the film does not succeed in striking a perfect balance between its spy thriller and superhero elements.

The end result is an entertaining yet a disappointing film. This is too late to serve as Natasha’s proper introduction.

Also, it fails to give her a deserving storyline.

Direction

Black Widow was directed by Cate Shortland. Her approach gives the movie a distinctive spy thriller vibe.

It is among the most intriguing elements of the film. The movie revolves around Natasha’s fighting skills.

Heroics aren’t really emphasized in the film. The action mostly includes hand to hand fighting scenes.

Car chase and melee fight sequences are also featured in the movie. That makes Black Widow unique compared to other MCU films. But it also makes the movie have a split identity.

Sometimes, the movie is more like a Bourne Identity type of thriller. However, the movie has difficulty knowing how far it can go with that style.

It must provide the spectacle that people are used to in Marvel movies. This makes an odd blend of styles.

Shortland manages the family scenes relatively well. Natasha’s relationship with Yelena is crucial. These two characters give the film all of its emotional spark.

Their dialogues also give Natasha a chance to be more vulnerable. The Red Guardian brings a totally different tone. David Harbour gives a comic performance here.

It brings some laughs. However, the style changes can be quite abrupt. One moment the movie deals with very traumatic events.

Another moment it turns into broad comedy. This does not always work. The direction also has issues with the complicated plot.

There are many organizations and characters in the film. The Red Room has a complicated backstory.

There’s a need to establish Natasha’s background. Yelena also requires some introduction. Then comes the main villain of the film.

All these elements struggle for attention. Consequently, the film becomes very confusing. However, the action direction in the film is good.

There are several great sequences in this film. Among them is the first escape sequence. Chase sequence in Budapest is another such example.

Final act takes the film up to a different level. At times, the action is too much. In the film, the characters are pushed beyond reasonable levels.

This makes the realist approach taken by the film look silly. Generally, Shortland brings a fresh approach to the film.

It definitely makes sense for the film to go towards being a spy-thriller. But the film doesn’t know when to end it.

Cinematography

Gabriel Beristain acts as a cinematographer. The film is more visually dark and grounded than its predecessors.

This fits well with the Natasha’s backstory. The story happens in a variety of places. The visuals contribute to creating an atmosphere of international spy action.

In addition, there is a focus on more realistic settings. The film doesn’t make use of colorful superhero aesthetics all the time.

This sets it apart from other MCU films. The darker visuals work well for Natasha’s arc. Her backstory is depicted in such a way that she tries to move away from her past.

It is reflected in the cinematography. The film has good fight choreography. The camera follows closely during most of the fights. This helps accentuate Natasha’s fighting style.

Visual effects are used very well in the Budapest scenes. The film provides a feeling of motion in the chase scenes.

The opening scenes also create an influence of the spy-thriller genre. But sometimes, the cinematography alone is not enough to make the film unique.

At some moments, it looks like a normal espionage movie. And the Marvel identity of the film can vanish completely.

This is intriguing but also a bit frustrating. Natasha deserved a film which looked unique. Unfortunately, some scenes in Black Widow look familiar.

With the development of the film, more and more effects come in. It creates a contrast with the more real beginning of the film.

The cinematography of the film is therefore inconsistent. All in all, the cinematography of the film is good.

It complements the tone of the film. But the cinematography is not always enough for a visual identity of the film.

Visual Effects

The visual effects in the movie Black Widow are rather inconsistent. First, there are a few spectacular scenes.

The destruction of the Red Room takes place in the movie. The film creates a lot of destruction in its finale.

Moreover, there are many digital effects throughout the action sequences. Sometimes they look effective.

Sometimes they appear to be less convincing. The movie always makes its characters exceed their physical possibilities.

For example, Natasha survives in some situations that should have killed her. It is quite typical for superhero movies.

But the point is that the movie tries to present itself as a spy movie. It makes the action slightly less believable.

This is most apparent in the last act of the movie. Structures crumble. Cars are flung into the air. Characters plummet from great heights.

The amount of digital carnage increases. The sequence is visually spectacular. But it takes the movie away from its strong points.

Earlier action scenes are believable because they are physical. Later action scenes depend more on digital effects.

It creates a visual imbalance in the movie. There are instances where the digital effect becomes apparent. Some environments look fake.

Some action sequences lose the physicality that was present in the practical shots. It does not mean that the movie looks visually bad.

It simply means that the digital effects are not always convincing. The film’s best effects are those that enhance the practical action.

The weaker moments occur when CGI becomes the main attraction. Overall, I would describe the visual effects as adequate rather than exceptional.

They accomplish what the story requires. However, they rarely provide the same visual impact as Marvel’s strongest productions.

Themes and Storyline

The movie tries to touch on many important themes. One of them is family. Natasha is made to face her childhood.

She reconnects with her so-called family members. Yelena plays an especially important role in this. It is through their relationship that the movie acquires its emotional dimension.

The movie tries to shed light on manipulation. The Black Widows are abducted in their youth. They are trained and manipulated by the Red Room.

Their individuality is stripped away from them. This forms a good basis for the plot of the movie. The theme of free will is also touched upon.

For Natasha and Yelena, it means deciding whom they want to be. It is quite an intriguing theme.

Unfortunately, this film fails to develop it properly. The plot gets more and more complex. There are some truths revealed about the Red Room.

There are some issues regarding Natasha’s childhood. The film presents a complex relationship between the heroes.

There are a lot of twists in the plot. Some of them work well. Others only complicate the story further.

It is one of the major drawbacks. The plot is much too complex. The main objective of the movie is quite clear.

Natasha wants to shut down the Red Room. She also wants to release the other Black Widows. It could have been quite an easy and powerful story.

Instead, there are several layers added to the plot. It is also partly due to the villain. Dreykov (Ray Winstone) is responsible for the Red Room.

His connection to Natasha is related to her past. Still, the character is quite forgettable. He plays an important part in the story.

At the same time, the character does not have the strength of the greatest Marvel villains. The Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) is an interesting character. The ability of the character is quite unique.

But the film may seem longer than its runtime. Sometimes the pacing is slow. At other times, there are too many pieces of information included.

Thus, the pacing ends up being inconsistent. The family storyline appears to be one of the strongest elements of the film.

Yelena allows Natasha to have a connection to someone. This connection is even more realistic than the rest of the plot.

The film poses some good questions related to Natasha’s story.

But these questions would have been more effective when the movie was released at an earlier point in time in the MCU timeline.

The worst aspect of the movie is its timing. Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame. This means that the film takes place after Natasha’s story has ended.

It is thus harder to make the stakes clear. The viewer already knows the fate of the character. Yet, it can still give more context to her story.

But it will not be able to change anything about Natasha’s journey in the MCU.

Performances

Scarlett Johansson gives Natasha considerable confidence. She knows the character very well.

Johansson also gives a vulnerable side to Natasha. It allows her to portray Natasha’s relationship with her past.

But the performance sometimes suffers because of the plot of the movie. Natasha has developed enough in previous films. Thus, the film has little to change in her.

One of the best parts of the film is Florence Pugh. Yelena instantly catches your attention. She gives humour and personality to the character.

Also, she provides emotional depth to her. Their relationship seems to be believable. But, moreover, she performs the comedy quite well.

Observations of Yelena about Natasha bring some humorous moments in the movie. What is more important, Pugh makes the character memorable. Yelena can fit the MCU perfectly.

David Harbour adopts a totally different approach. The interpretation of Alexei Shostakov is over-the-top.

The Red Guardian is meant to be a form of comic relief. Harbour clearly relishes his role. His performance brings energy.

However, the comedy may not always go well with the film’s dark tones.

The portrayal of Melina by Rachel Weisz is relatively reserved. She brings intelligence to the character.

Melina’s past experiences with the Red Room make her interestingly connected to Natasha. But this relationship is not utilized to its full potential by the storyline.

Dreykov is played by Ray Winstone. He gives the villain an intimidating presence. But the villain is not particularly memorable.

The writing restricts what Winstone can do with the role. It’s the same case with Taskmaster. The idea is interesting.

The character looks great in the action scenes. But the ultimate storyline is unsatisfying. Overall, the performances outshine the story.

Johansson stays true to her character of Natasha. Pugh makes Yelena likeable instantly. Harbour offers plenty of comedy.

The supporting cast is good. The only issue is that these characters are surrounded by a bad screenplay.

What Worked and What Did Not

There are several things I enjoyed about Black Widow. The first success is Florence Pugh’s Yelena.

She brings a new element into the MCU. Yelena has humor. She also has emotional depth. Her interactions with Natasha provide some of the best scenes in the movie.

Another entertaining role in the film is David Harbour’s Red Guardian. His performance is purposely over the top. And some of his humor really works.

Finally, it should be noted that the movie succeeded in giving Natasha her own plotline. After all, Scarlett Johansson had been playing the character for years.

The action is another positive. The film contains several well-staged sequences. The opening escape is effective. The Budapest chase is entertaining.
The hand-to-hand combat generally feels physical.

The spy-thriller approach also suits Natasha.
It makes sense to explore her world through espionage.

However, this is where the film becomes disappointing. The story is difficult to follow at times.

There are too many explanations. There are also several twists competing for attention. The film could have benefited from a simpler storyline.

The Bourne influence is also noticeable.
That influence is not inherently negative. But Black Widow often seems to be simply the Bourne films with Marvel characters.

This is somewhat limiting. In addition, the movie comes too late. Natasha was killed in the MCU. This means that the solo movie cannot offer a unique character development as a prequel.

Everyone is aware of how Natasha’s storyline ends. This eliminates some of the excitement. The villains themselves are problematic.

Dreykov is unremarkable. Taskmaster looks good but does not impress as the villain. Tone is another issue with the movie.

Serious talk about trauma is alternated with comedic moments. Some transitions work well. Others look awkward.

CGI is also a controversial element of the film. While some scenes look spectacular, others seem unrealistic.

The final act becomes especially effects-driven. This undermines the grounded nature of the rest of the movie.

Pacing is yet another problem. Some parts of the film are boring while others are rushed. This is another reason why it seems like too much happens.

However, despite all of the problems, the film is still not entirely bad. There are enough elements that save it from being unwatchable.

The performances of actors are mostly responsible for this aspect of the movie. The action is generally entertaining.

Yelena is an excellent addition to the MCU. However, the film does not feel as important as it should.

Natasha deserved a stronger solo story. The character had been part of the MCU for more than a decade.

Her final solo outing should have felt like an event. Instead, the film feels like a delayed addition to an already completed story. That is perhaps the most disappointing aspect.

Overall Verdict

Black Widow is an extremely hard film to review.

There are some aspects that the film gets right, but there are also numerous flaws that hinder the process of becoming one of the best Marvel movies.

Scarlett Johansson keeps true to Natasha.

Nevertheless, the movie is simply too late for Natasha’s full exploration. The most successful aspect is Florence Pugh as Yelena.

She makes this character unforgettable right away. Yelena adds humor and emotion. Her relations with Natasha become the best moment of the movie.

David Harbour is also fun to watch as Red Guardian. This over-the-top role gives many humorous moments.

However, the tone of the movie does not work in every case. The movie keeps going from drama to comedy.

These shifts are sometimes awkward to notice. Action is also entertaining. Spy-thriller approach works well with Natasha’s character.

However, it becomes too much Bourne-like. It fails to stand out as an independent Marvel movie.

The plot is also too complex. There are too many explanations and twists. It could be much simpler.

The villain is yet another letdown. Dreykov is far from the likes of Marvel’s best villains. The idea behind Taskmaster seems intriguing.

But the character and his story disappoints. Visual effects are inconsistent. There are some really good ones. There are others that look unrealistic.

Even the finale gets dependent on the visual effects. And it undermines the grounded atmosphere that had been set before.

Pacing is another drawback of the movie. Sometimes it drags. Sometimes it rushes. It is an inconsistency which makes the film uneven to watch.

Nevertheless, there are some themes that are worth discussing. The topics of manipulation, identity, family, and free will are covered by the movie.

They could have served as a basis for an excellent narrative. Unfortunately, some times they are lost among the complexity of the plot.

Timing is yet another flaw of the film. The character had her story finished with Avengers: Endgame.

And therefore the movie feels more like the extra material rather than an essential part. In my opinion, that is the main flaw of Black Widow.

It is a movie that could have been made earlier.
Natasha deserves her own movie when she was still evolving.

This movie still manages to deliver some great scenes. Yelena happens to be one of them. With Pugh, the MCU now has a character who can be the center of more films.

Action delivers some fun too. Nonetheless, the end result is disappointing. There is a good movie buried under all that in Black Widow.

Alas, the complex plot is what prevents it from being so. It is not among Marvel’s poorest movies. Still, it cannot be counted among the best either.