“The Woman King” Review
Viola Davis leads an army of women warriors to defend the Dahomey empire in “The Woman King.”
For those who loved 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” rejoice. For the Amazon Warriors did exist, although not in Greece. The most extraordinary group of female warriors existed in Western Africa and their story, as told in “The Woman King,” has made for the best action film I’ve seen since “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Set in the 1820s, the Dahomey empire in modern-day Benin is faced with the wrath of their rivals: the Oyo Empire and European slavers. As both groups seek to destroy and enslave the Dahomey people, there is one defense that can bring them victory: an elite force of female warriors called the Agojie and their leader General Nanisca (Viola Davis).
Viola Davis leads a remarkable cast with an amazing physical transformation into an incredible warrior. The command she holds over her troops is astounding and the moving speeches she delivers to inspire her fighters are on par with Russel Crowe in “Gladiator” or Mel Gibson in “Braveheart.” Davis has proven time and time again that she’s one of the best actors working today and this film continues to cement that reputation.
The film also boasts a strong supporting cast which shows the warriors in various stages. While the ultimate conflict is between the Agoije and their enemies, much of the film is dedicated to a new group of women who join the warriors. One of them, a young girl named Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), is given quite a bit of character development as she trains for battle and becomes a skilled warrior.
One of the more experienced commanders, Izogie (Lashana Lynch), was easily my favorite character of the film as she’s a badass warrior but also introduces us and the new recruits into the world of these warriors. Lashana Lynch deserves an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in this film and her skills as a warrior were so enjoyable to witness.
What’s even more impressive is how “The Woman King” shows a part of history that most people probably don’t know about. The fact that so many of us don’t know the history of Africa or the fact that an elite female force of warriors existed is tragic, but this film hopefully has awoken interest in a long downplayed part of human history.
The entire film is a massive spectacle with every element of filmmaking working at peak levels. The scope of the film is amazing to look at with the cinematography, costumes and set design all sucking the audience into this remarkable place. Terence Blanchard’s score also is fantastic and I sincerely hope that it garners him another Oscar nomination.
But it’s the action where the film’s talent is on full display. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has crafted amazing battles which showcase large armies of extras clashing with brutal violence that pushes the PG-13 rating to its limits.
If you love historical epics, this is certainly one to check out. It’s entertaining, it’s inspirational, it’s a fantastic action film that I won’t soon forget.
