I caught Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s “The Woman King” on 09.10.22 and, I’m telling you right now, it’s being overpraised by critics. If you read anyone claiming it’s an Oscar player then take that info with a MAJOR grain of salt.
Kyle Buchanan is usually a reliable source when it comes to Oscar, the NYT pundit has decided to cram in “The Woman King” with seven other buzzed titles that he believes have a shot at Best Picture:
This old-fashioned action epic from the director Gina Prince-Bythewood played through the roof in Toronto and stars Viola Davis as the leader of the Agojie, an all-female group of warriors defending their kingdom in 1820s West Africa. Davis is an Oscar winner (with three more nominations, too) who called “The Woman King” her magnum opus while introducing the film, and a performance this passionate and athletic should be in contention all season. But a notable box-office haul will be crucial to the film’s fate (it opens Friday), since even bigger action films like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” are due at year’s end and will be following Oscar-nominated predecessors.
When it comes to the box-office prospects of “The Woman King,” I don’t buy it. Variety is reporting the film is currently “aiming” for a $15 million opening on its first weekend. That’s somewhat realistic, but also a bit generous.
The film is said to have been made on a budget of $50 million, and, given the relentless marketing, maybe it will make that money back. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard or read this film being touted as the “real-life Black Panther” — smart marketing move, but will it actually pay off?
“The Woman King” currently has a 78 on Metacritic.
I didn’t feel the same high certain critics felt with Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s “The Woman King.” It’s a mostly bloated and messy epic about black female warriors. Any momentum that gets built up in this 134-minute movie is quickly destroyed by constantly unnecessary narrative interruptions. The action is also very choppy.
Prince-Bythewood did a better job directing the thrills in Netflix’s decent “The Old Guard.” However, Viola Davis is good as General Nanisca of The Dahomey army. Ditto Lashana Lynch, who easily gets best in show awards here, too bad she has a very supporting role. At least the costumes are great?
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.