Espionage Classic

After a delay of almost a year, the Cate Shortland-directed entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ‘Black Widow’ is finally available on Disney+ Hotstar. Viewers feel that Scarlett Johansson deserves a full arc outside her Avengers exploits. Instead, her film keeps getting pushed aside purposely and in the end gets a farewell flick. Well, better late than never, ‘Black Widow’ finally sees the light of the day.

Set in 1995 suburban Ohio, the film opens with Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), Russian KGB undercover agents, who pose as a family with their made-up daughters, young Natasha (Ever Anderson) and Yelena (Violet McGraw) to avoid any eyes. The two steal S.H.I.E.L.D and escape to Cuba where their boss, General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) takes Natasha and Yelena under his wings to train in the Red Room, his Russian academy for training and brainwashing female assassins, turning them into deadly agents. But Natasha finds out the truth about the Red Room and blasts the Budapest office, almost killing General Dreykov and his daughter Antonia and destroying the Red Room.

Fast forward to 2016, the adult Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding from the government after violating the Sokovia Accords. Soon, she moves to Europe where her path crosses with adult Yelena (Florence Pugh) who, in exile, sends her a parcel that contains vials. She tells her that Dreykov is alive and the Red Room is still active. She further informs her that the antidote in the vials has the ability to control the minds of the women who have transformed into killing machines. Together, the two reconcile with their fake family to bring down Dreykov and his Red Room once and for all.

The film heavily revolves around the keyword ‘F9’, a code word for ‘family’, as Natasha keeps shifting from one family to another. It is about Natasha facing her past, reuniting with her family, especially Yelena, who she encounters after nearly two decades. Obviously, the meeting is far from pleasant for what seems to be a make-believe family for all, was all real for Yelena. So, Natasha understands her when she complains about leaving her and joining the Avengers alone.

The tone of the film is set as a 70s spy thriller with action and espionage classics, making it worth watching. One might find some resemblance with films like ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ and ‘James Bond’ but ‘Black Widow’ shines on its own, with spy-action greats that feel alive and original at the same time.

The film fails in portraying Johansson as the main lead or hero. As Natasha, an Avenger who is a highly-trained KGB assassin and former agent of SHIELD, Johansson gives her two hundred percent. Though the character’s vulnerability sets her apart from the other Avengers, Natasha emerges as a fool when hoping to redeem the red in her ledger with good deeds. She has some incredible action sequences but the other cast members outshine her.

Florence Pugh as Yelena steals the show with her stern and sarcastic tone. She is clever and knows exactly what to do in a particular situation. She has an active mind. With Yelena’s brains and Natasha’s energy, the two make for a powerful duo ready to take on the world. The continuous teasing of siblings between them is an interesting sight to watch.

David Harbour, in his role as the retired super-soldier Alexei Shostakav, Red Guardian, is not heroic and noble and has flaws both comically and tragically. Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, the lead scientist of the Red Room and a seasoned spy, makes for a not-so-impressive personality who does not dare to stand up to her boss when she finds out the truth about the Red Room.

The film also has some hits and misses. The opening Budapest car chase is full of energy and needs to be lauded for the excellent cinematography by Luis Gabriel Beristain. While the script by Eric Pearson gives light to the character of Yelena, it fails to focus on her enemy. An antagonist should be strong enough to fight everyone. However, the film wastes the helmeted villain Taskmaster Antonia (Olga Kurylenko) who had the potential to do much better.

Overall, ‘Black Widow’ is deadly and fierce and has the potential for another two or three versions of the film where the director can focus on showing Natasha’s struggle as a lonely warrior and when she is with her family. Pugh’s character can also be further polished and given more depth.

Unlike other films from Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘Black Widow’ is a one-time film that works on its own terms. Watch it if you are a Marvel or Scarlett Johansson fan.