In Director Cate Shortland’s Black Widow, it’s 1995 in Ohio. Young Natasha Romanoff, played by Ever Anderson, plays outside with her younger sister Yelena, played by Violet McGraw. Yelena falls and skins her knee. Their Russian scientist Mother Melina, played with caring gravitas by amazing Rachel Weisz, attends to Yelena. In her Russian accent, she tells her girls, “Pain makes you stronger.” You endure what’s bad.
The calm evening lit by fireflies soon unravels. Father Alexei, played by stalwart David Harbor, and Mom Melina flee with their family from the US Government authorities. Are they Russian spies? Alexei displays great heroics and physical prowess during the family’s escape. Upon arriving in Cuba, Alexei reluctantly surrenders Natasha and Yelena to the shadowy Dreykov, played by menacing Ray Winstone, and his soldiers.
During the next several years, Natasha and Yelena endure torture, including surgical sterilization, physical and chemical mind control, and intense martial training in the Red Room to become Widows, the fiercest assassins on the Planet. Dreykov is the power broker, who leverages the Widows in his global terrorist threat in Eric Pearson’s screenplay from the story by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson.
Black Widow Natasha arises as the greatest Widow, the deadliest assassin. Eventually, Black Widow follows the divergent Hero path, becoming an Avenger with Captain America. Black Widow occurs several years after Captain America: Civil War, with Natasha now a fugitive from the law. She flies under the radar with the help of Mason, played by funny reliable O-T Fagbenie. Amidst the turmoil, the Widow mind control antidote reveals. In the aftermath, Natasha collides with Yelena, played by beautiful strong Florence Pugh, who’s the formidable Widow, herself.
Natasha and Yelena battle Dreykov’s invincible assassin Taskmaster, played by beautiful sullen Olga Kurylenko, who can regenerate her opponent’s fighting style and strengths. Aikido Founder O-Sensei said, “True victory is victory over oneself.” Really, Natasha is fighting to overcome herself, the compelling overarching narrative of Director Cate’s Black Widow.
Natasha and her sister seek out Alexei, who knows the whereabouts of the Red Room. However, he’s imprisoned in Norway. WTF? Alexei was the Russian superhero Red Guardian, the Cold War equivalent to Captain America. An apparent washout Alexie comically borders on goofy irrelevance that’s salvaged by David’s underlying gravitas.
The faux Russian family reunites, to somehow save the world from Dreykov’s army of Widows. In the poignant narrative arc, Rachel’s Melina asks Scarlett’s Natasha, “How did you keep your heart?” Natasha says, “What you taught me kept me alive…” That’s the grace of Black Widow. Scarlett is powerful and vulnerable in her actions, in what she says, and in the unsaid.
In the brutal climactic fight, Scarlett’s Natasha is the total badass using her kickboxing and Brazilian Jujitsu skills against the army of Widows. Yes, she could win or lose. Yet, she enters her fear as her authentic self. True victory over oneself. Just saying.
In the Black Widow tragic mythology, Natasha was literally an outcast as a child. She inherited two families, the Avengers and her Russian family from rural Ohio. Maybe, not her real families, yet they gave her heart. In the touching moment, Florence’s Yelena says, “I know it (my family) was fake, but it was real to me!”
Natasha must reconcile her sins of the past. As the elite assassin, she murdered many people. The unforgivable resulted from her actions. In the pivotal narrative resolve, Natasha tearfully says, “I’m so sorry.” Can she be forgiven? Can she forgive herself?
For the most part, Black Widow is an amazing visual spectacale, unexpected whimsy, and sincere pathos. Natasha is electrifying as she descends through sky to rescue Yelena as all hell breaks loose. Yelena disrespects Natasha for her perfunctory fighting stance, “Such a poser!” Father Alexei bear hugs his girls exclaiming, “You both killed so many people… I couldn’t be more proud of you.” I laughed out loud in the Dolby theater.
Cate Shortland’s Black Widow is about the human journey. Scarlett Johansson is brave compassionate humanity as the Hero Natasha. Props to Cate and Scarlett for creating strong, smart, kick ass women heroes with heart on the big screen. Amidst our own trials and tribulations, we keep our heart. We remember those we love, those who love us back. That makes Black Widow one of my favorite Marvel movies. That makes it something special, too.
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