3/4Starring: Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Cynthia Ervio, Garrett Dillahunt, Jacki Weaver, Lukas Haas, Kevin J. O'ConnorRated R for Violence, Language Throughout, and some Sexual Content/NudityIt's kind of impressive just how much plot has been crammed into the two hours that it takes to tell the story of "Widows." Perhaps not surprising, however, since it was based on a miniseries. Still, this is a story that demands that the viewer pay close attention. Answer a text, and you're likely to become lost. Fortunately, the strength of the performances keeps things involving."Widows" is a movie that depends a lot of surprises, so I'll just explain the set-up. A robbery has just been foiled. All four of the thieves, including the ringleader, Harry (Neeson), have died. The money they have stolen was also destroyed. That means that Harry's debt to Jamal Manning (Henry) has been passed onto Harry's wife Veronica (Davis). Desperate, Veronica decides to get the money herself with the help of the widows of Harry's crew. Meanwhile, Jamal is in a bitter political battle with Jack Mulligan (Farrell), the latest member of a political dynasty.There's a lot going on here, and director Steve McQueen doesn't waste a moment. It isn't the most elegant tale due to the compressed running time (" Heat ," the king of the heist genre, took an additional hour to unspool), but it contains the requisite amount of melodrama and suspense. This is a slow-burn thriller, as McQueen is more concerned with the characters and their situation than the actual heist (which takes up about five minutes of screen time).Like "Heat," "Widows" boasts a powerhouse cast. It doesn't have names like Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, but it has the talents of Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall, who are just as good. Viola Davis has played her share of gritty, intense characters, but none of them compare to Veronica. Veronica does what needs to be done and doesn't take any bull from anyone. But beneath the veneer of a woman who could bluff the devil himself is a woman who is in over her head but caught in an impossible situation. Elizabeth Debicki continues to impress as a woman not blessed with confidence or innate intelligence, but gains both quickly when given the chance. Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry and Daniel Kaluuya are also in top form. Special mention has to go to Cynthia Ervio, who makes an impression in a small but key role.The problem with Steve McQueen's first two films, "Hunger" and " Shame ", was that he was trying too hard. He filled the screen with a random assortment of images and Michael Fassbender staring intensely at something. Now that has become a critical darling and earned an Oscar (undeservedly) for " 12 Years a Slave ," he has stopped trying to be an auteur and actually make movies. I won't say he's a great filmmaker yet, but the potential is there. He's certainly fearless and won't back down from a challenge."Widows" is a solid dramatic thriller whose only fault is being too overstuffed with plot. The film's two plot threads, the heist and the election are compelling enough on their own but appear to have been wedded together with scotch tape. And the ending doesn't really satisfy (especially the final scene). Still, for fans of the genre, it's worth seeing.