The Woman King is a 2022 American historical epic film about the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit who protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies.
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity.
Runtime: 2h 15m
Review:
The Woman King is a bit of a throwback to old fashion historical epics. Gina Prince-Bythewood's film hits the standard beats by delivering a handful of well done action set pieces in between quieter moments that make up the larger part of the actual film. She keeps a keen focus on the characters and she gives the audience time to get to know a handful of them. Viola Davis's General Nanisca gets the lion share of the attention and for good reason. Davis's world-weary façade and imposing physicality make her tailormade for the role. She's the perfect actress to capture the ferocity of the role while balancing the quieter more vulnerable moments. Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim both deliver solid supporting roles as warrior and confidants to Nanisca with each getting plenty of screen time to leave a memorable impression. John Boyega isn't asked do much outside of sound and look regal which he accomplishes with general ease. Thuso Mbedu plays a young woman given to the female troop with her sub plot increasing in importance as the film moves on. Mbedu does her best, but she feels miscast since she's never able to believably exude the strength her character is supposed to have. It doesn't help that the script is thin on characterization, giving each character a few traits but very little else in terms of depth. Additionally, there are pacing issues that pop up especially in the final act where the film noticeably drags in spots making it feel much longer than its 2 hour and 15 minute runtime. Even with its faults The Woman King is a solid addition to the genre anchored by a strong central performance.
B
