Chicago, Illinois. The South Side’s 18th ward is up for grabs as rotten to the core Jack Mulligan and equally sleazy Jamal Manning are running for alderman. No punches are pulled as we are given a tour of Chicago’s most crime-plagued precinct. In this otherwise charming neighborhood where robberies aren’t exactly uncommon, thief Harry Rawlings and his crew get killed in the aftermath of a job. As a result, their widows, led by Veronica Rawlings, find themselves in a highly uncomfortable situation. Indeed, their late husbands’ legacy includes a $2 million debt that they can’t exactly afford to settle (at least not legally). Stop looking, you’ve got yourself the heist movie of the year.
If glancing at the menu hasn’t convinced you yet, you might want to take a closer look at the ingredients. Academy Award winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and writing genius Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Dark Places, Sharp Objects) co-wrote the screenplay and their cast alone probably justifies the $42 million budget (all right, all the explosions must have cost a few nickels too). Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert Duvall and Elizabeth Debicki, to name but a few, hold their own to say the least. However, Daniel Kaluuyah of Black Mirror fame leaves them all in the shade with his stellar performance as ruthless goon Jatemme (I love you too) Manning. Even his London accent seamlessly disappears as his midwestern character takes over. And I haven’t even mentioned Veronica’s dog’s acting skills yet.
If this movie still doesn’t have your vote after this show of force, here’s the real reason why you should drop everything and go watch it. Its thrilling heist component is merely an excuse to explore multiple thought-provoking societal themes in a sometimes utterly brutal way. Guns, extreme violence, crimes of all kinds, political dynasties, status quo, ghettos, racism, police brutality, toxic masculinity, you name it. Chicago’s 18th ward seems to encapsulate and amplify everything that is wrong with the world in general and America in particular. There is so much (too much?) to unpack that this movie should be seen at least twice. Especially since the plot takes as many twists as it offers issues to examine. Much in the same way as it is done in Crash, my all-time favorite movie, all of these individuals’ seemingly unrelated deeds are actually a part of the same much bigger picture. You’ll end up breathless and probably quite shaken (I can think of a few scenes that will have you grip your armrests) but grateful for the ride.
Picture: Diego Delso, Skyline de Chicago desde el centro, Illinois, Estados Unidos, 2012-10-20, DD 06.jpg, Wikimedia Commons.
Pardon my French 