Widows

Viola Davis leads an efficient heist that rarely blows the doors off

"...Directed by: Steve McQueen. Starring: Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo,..."

Nov. 16, 2018 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Fences

Denzel Washington scores big in August Wilson's great American play

"...Directed by: Denzel Washington. Starring: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Mykelti Williamson, Jovan Adepo and..."

Dec. 23, 2016 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Won't Back Down

Two mad-as-hell mamas take back their public school from the bureaucrats and unions that seemingly enforce the status quo.

"...Directed by: Daniel Barnz. Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Oscar Isaac, Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez, Emily Alyn..."

Sept. 28, 2012 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Help

Based on a bestseller, this Southern civil-rights era story about white women and their black maids is saved by the film's deeply moving cast.

"...Directed by: Tate Taylor. Starring: Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica..."

Aug. 12, 2011 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Get on Up

As James Brown, Chadwick Boseman captures the performer's voice, moves, sweat, and swagger, but this biopic, as a whole, needs a stronger compass.

"...Tate Taylor. Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Craig Robinson, Lennie James, Jill Scott,..."

Aug. 1, 2014 Movie Review by William Goss

Prisoners

Jake Gyllenhaal is a detective working a troubling case, and Hugh Jackman's wound-up father of the victim is just one of his problems.

"...Directed by: Denis Villeneuve. Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo, Maria Bello and Terrence..."

Sept. 27, 2013 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Just what's needed in the big house – Perry's pistol-packing granny.

"...Mann, Tamela J. Mann, Ion Overman, RonReaco Lee and Viola Davis. Here’s a question worth pondering: How does one..."

Feb. 27, 2009 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

The life and tribulations of the Mother of the Blues

"...Directed by: George C. Wolfe. Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo and Michael..."

Dec. 4, 2020 Movie Review

Antwone Fisher

"...Luke, Joy Bryant, Salli Richardson, Earl Billings, Kevin Connolly, Viola Davis and Novella Nelson. In his debut as a..."

Jan. 10, 2003 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Fast Color Is the Superhero Movie We Really Need

Actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a beacon to behold

"...up as an Amazon series to be produced by Viola Davis, with Hart and partner Jordan Horowitz set to..."

Sept. 20, 2019 Screens Feature by Jenny Nulf

Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners

The AFCA laud acclaimed drama and local filmmaker Keith Maitland

"...Isabelle Huppert for Elle, and Best Supporting Actress to Viola Davis for Fences. Eric Heisserer was recognized for Arrival..."

Dec. 30, 2016 Screens Feature by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Good Eye: Oscar Beige

Oscar beige

"...still insist on calling it that, when Lupita and Viola Davis and Kerry Washington (gorgeously, pregnantly purple in draped..."

March 7, 2014 Column by Amy Gentry

It's Kind of a Funny Story

When a 15-year-old overachiever checks himself into a mental ward, he learns to affirm the good things in life without ever whitewashing the bad.

"...Ryan Fleck. Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies and Bernard White. Movies targeted at..."

Oct. 8, 2010 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Illusory Impressions

Catherine Davis and Michelle Thompson's site-specific dance-and-music work will move you in ways you won't expect

"...release, and with histories and potentials collide. Composer-musician Catherine Davis, seated at the piano bench, leans into a resonating..."

April 29, 2016 Arts Feature by Jonelle Seitz

Solaris

"...Directed by: Steven Soderbergh. Starring: Ulrich Tukur, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, Natascha Mcelhone and George Clooney. "There..."

Nov. 29, 2002 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Suicide Squad

James Gunn's bad guys doing good prove DC needs to get silly

"...James Gunn. Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Daniela Melchior, Pete Davidson, Michael Rooker..."

Aug. 6, 2021 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad is done in by its own hand

"...Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne,..."

Aug. 5, 2016 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Architect

This well-meaning social drama about the intersecting lives of a dysfunctional, upper-middle-class family in suburbia and the residents of a deteriorating public-housing project is flimsy at best.

"...Directed by: Matt Tauber. Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Viola Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Hayden Panettiere, Sebastian Stan, Paul James..."

Dec. 8, 2006 Movie Review by Steve Davis

The Unforgiveable

An ex-con flails to get her life back after a murder conviction

"...Nora Fingscheidt. Starring: Sandra Bullock, Rob Morgan, Jon Bernthal, Viola Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio and Aisling Franciosi...."

Nov. 26, 2021 Movie Review

Behind the Camera With the Capital City Black Film Festival

Celebration of film places more emphasis on making it into the industry

"...you get the green light." That's why representatives from Viola Davis JuVee Productions, Will Packer Media, and Jordan Peele's..."

Aug. 28, 2019 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Capital City Black Film Festival Mounts The Last Defense

Viola Davis-produced documentary series added to fest

"...Last Defense, ABC's true crime documentary series produced by Viola Davis...."

Aug. 21, 2018 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Chronicle Recommends: Star Wars Actors in Non-Star Wars Films

Celebrate May the Fourth away from a galaxy far, far away

"...mouths of certified thespians Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson, and Viola Davis. As for Ehrenreich, you won’t spot much hint..."

May 3, 2018 Screens Post by Chronicle Film Staff

Playback: Sound on Sound Gets Medieval

Sound on Sound’s über headliner: 23 acres of Sherwood Forest

"...Viola Davis, star of How to Get Away With Murder,..."

Nov. 4, 2016 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

The Luv Doc: How Clever You Are

Where everyone gets their three minutes to bomb

"...I'm in love with a woman I hate. Yep...."

Oct. 14, 2016 Column by The Luv Doc

More Than a Femme Fatale

Ruth Negga on killing it in AMC's Preacher

"...Nichols, about an interracial couple arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia's anti-miscegenation laws), sickness (she's recovering from a nasty..."

June 10, 2016 Screens Feature by Sarah Marloff

Blackhat

Chris Hemsworth stars in Michael Mann's cyber thriller.

"...Directed by: Michael Mann. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Tang Wei, Wang Leehom, William Mapother, Ritchie Coster,..."

Jan. 16, 2015 Movie Review by Louis Black

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them

Jessica Chastain plays Her and James McAvoy plays Him, and together they're Them in intriguing head-scratcher.

"...Directed by: Ned Benson. Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, William Hurt, Isabelle Huppert, Ciarán Hinds, Jess Weixler..."

Sept. 19, 2014 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card's supposedly unfilmable militaristic sci-fi novel makes the leap to screen.

"...Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfield, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Aramis Knight, Suraj Partha, Moises Arias and Nonso..."

Nov. 1, 2013 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Trailer Park Goes Big

'Ender's Game,' 'The World's End,' and 'The Butler'

"...to the big screen, and it features Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin, and young Asa Butterfield as the..."

May 9, 2013 Screens Post by Monica Riese

Beautiful Creatures

She's a witch, he's a mortal, and they both read Charles Bukowski: Some teens will never make it to heaven.

"...Richard LaGravenese. Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Margo Martindale,..."

Feb. 15, 2013 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

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