BLACK WIDOW

US, 2021, 134 minutes, Colour.

Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, Ray Winstone, O-T Fagbanle, William Hurt, Olga Kurylenko.

Directed by Cate Shortland.

A check on Scarlett Johansson’s career in film appearances indicates that this is the ninth film to feature her character, Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow, appearing first in Iron Man 2.

While she has been a presence in all these films, she has tended to be overshadowed by the other characters, the other Avengers, the male Avengers. Now, here she has the opportunity to be herself, a character with personality, not just martial expertise.

As with so many films these days, this is an origin story, situating Natasha Romanoff within the context of her family, her training as an assassin Black Widow, her relationships within the family and their consequences.

So the film opens quietly in Ohio in 1995, a seemingly ideal family, parents, two little girls, devoted, playful… Until the moment arises when it is revealed that they are Russian Sleepers, have to escape, and, in the manner of the Marvel Universe, fly their secret plane, pursued by American government agents, father fending off attack with a machine gun from the wing of the plane, mother wounded, little Natasha flying the plane – to be greeted in Russia by the powerful tycoon, Dreykov, and the little girls taken away to be trained as Black Widows. So, that is the explanation for the Natasha Romanoff, a Black Widow but one who has escaped to the US to become an Avenger.

Scarlett Johansson has an opportunity to be more than just an action hero this time, more of a character, more of a person, taking refuge in Norway (beautiful scenery), persuaded to go to Budapest (beautiful views of the city and the Danube with action and car chases), meeting her long lost sister, Yelena, a strong performance from Florence Pugh, whom we have seen operating as an agent in Morocco (more beautiful scenery).

And just when we might have thought we had seen the last of father and mother (David Harbour and a welcome Rachel Weisz), the daughters rescue their father from prison where head in interned for 20 years (but no love lost), meet their mother and learn the truth about their life in the US.

The main part of the plot and the final action is the families plan to confront the tyrant, Dreykov, and wreak revenge. No spoiler to realise that they do!

One of the difficulties for the film is the casting of Ray Winstone as Dreykov. Ray Winstone has had a career of playing British thugs and heavies, with the consequence that it is very hard to accept him, even wearing spectacles and talking technology, as the 21^st century equivalent of Bond villain, Blofeld.

The film was directed by Australian, Cate Shortland, who brings something of a more humane quality to her characters.

The important thing is to sit through the very long credits because, as with Marvel Films, there is an extra sequence indicating the future, very important information given to Yeena (by a surprise appearance by Julia Louis Dreyfus).

1. The success of the Marvel universe? The heroic characters? The Avengers?
2. Black Widow as one of the Avengers, her appearance in the films, her action, powers, her background? This film providing the origins story, her family background and career?
3. The opening, Ohio in 1995, Middle America, home, schools, outings? The contrast with Russia? Locations in Norway, Budapest, Morocco, the isolated town, interiors, the Red Room?
4. Action sequences, explosions, chases? Special effects? Stunts? Musical score?
5. Ohio, the family, the role of the father, mother at home, the little girls, love for their father, the outings? The father arriving home, having to move, the chase, the police, the plane, the father fending off the attack, mother and the plane, shot, Natasha having to steer the plane, father on the wing? The getaway?
6. The contrast with arriving in Russia? The family separation? Dreycov, his authority? His imprisoning the father? Girls taken away, the years of training, the Black Widows? Planted around the world? Dreycov, personality, power, the photographs with all the world leaders? His control of the girls? Mind control? Drugs?
7. The episode in Morocco, Yelena, the pursuit of the woman, the drugs, the confrontation? The decision to find Natasha?
8. Natasha, the pursuit of the Avengers, Secretary Ross? The meeting with Natasha? Her escape, going to Norway, the refuge, retirement, Mason and his help, provisions? The news about Budapest?
9. In Budapest, the encounter with Yeena, the pursuits, the chases, the scenery of the city?
10. The sisters, reconciliation? Their lives? Reputations, action, deaths? Natasha and the death of Dreycov’s daughter? The decision about revenge, their father, in prison, bigger, rough, his character? His reputation as the Russian Captain America? His being rescued?
11. Father, older, trying to relate to his daughters, the reactions? Hostile? Finding their mother? The pigs, her scientific experiments? The revelation of their role in the United States, the daughters being adopted, the truth about Natasha’s mother and her being killed? The mother and her being the brains in the family? The father slower, last action hero?
12. The plan for the attack on Dreycov, his later, elaborate, above the radar, the vast tower, interiors? His personality, cruel, intelligence, controllable? Lack of emotions?
13. The attack, the flashbacks explain the plan, Melina disguised as Natasha, vice versa? The confrontation with Dreykov? The appearance of Antonia, disfigured, the presence in the masked warrior? The past confrontations with Natasha, the armour, the shield?
14. The Widows, training, the attack, the chemicals, lack of mind control, support of Natasha and Yelena?
15. The final destruction, the defeat of Dreycov, the freedom of the Widows, the freedom for the family?
16. Ross in pursuit, Norway, the fate of Natasha?
17. The epilogue after the credits, you Lena at her sister’s grave, the arrival of the agent, the photo of Natasha’s killer? Sequel?