window.dotcom = window.dotcom || { cmd: [] }; window.dotcom.ads = window.dotcom.ads || { resolves: {enabled: [], getAdTag: []}, enabled: () => new Promise(r => window.dotcom.ads.resolves.enabled.push(r)), getAdTag: () => new Promise(r => window.dotcom.ads.resolves.getAdTag.push(r)) }; setTimeout(() => { if(window.dotcom.ads.resolves){ window.dotcom.ads.resolves.enabled.forEach(r => r(false)); window.dotcom.ads.resolves.getAdTag.forEach(r => r("")); window.dotcom.ads.enabled = () => new Promise(r => r(false)); window.dotcom.ads.getAdTag = () => new Promise(r => r("")); console.error("NGAS load timeout"); } }, 5000)
Skip to content

Film review: Could heist thriller Widows win best picture?

Caryn James
Features correspondent
The heist thriller that could win best picture

The director of 12 Years a Slave is back with a popcorn film that rewrites Hollywood conventions, says critic Caryn James.

12 Years a Slave won the best picture Oscar in 2014. It was a serious, deeply moving look at slavery via the true story of an African-American man from New York who was forced into bondage against his will. The film's British director, Steve McQueen, was the mastermind behind Hunger and Shame. Formerly more at home at Tate Modern than the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), McQueen moved into feature films after first being a prominent experimental film-maker.

But it’s at TIFF where he’s premiered his first film since 12 Years a Slave – and it’s unlike anything he’s done before – apart from its high quality. Rave reviews suggest it could be a top Oscar contender – but its plot could have mass appeal too.

To learn more, click the play button on the video above.

If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.

And if you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “If You Only Read 6 Things This Week”. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.