Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Black Adam, we’re counting down our favorite movies starring Viola Davis! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
James Gunn knows how to bring a group together and subvert expectations. The Suicide Squad is a much-welcome sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad. Obviously, Gunn didn’t get Justin Timberlake’s Sean Parker from The Social Network’s note about dropping the “the” from the title. Viola Davis returns as Amanda Waller, and she is completely unhinged. She struggles to maintain order within the group, receiving pushback from the squad, her internal team, and direct reports. Waller comes off as borderline sociopathic towards the end when making her decisions. Davis displays her range by showing her tactical and ruthless sides, all in the same movie. The new Squad’s filled with many great additions, mixed with some old favorites. All the new members of the Suicide Squad have moments where they matter to the team, moments when they become relatable, and moments when they genuinely make you laugh. The only one I missed from the original group is Deadshot (Will Smith). Bloodsport (Idris Elba) stands apart as someone we’re rooting for and the leader the group needs. (Mike Hilty)
Viola Davis is a downright powerhouse of an actress. One of the earliest roles I can remember seeing her in was that of Aibileen Clark in The Help. The film set during the civil rights movement in the 1960s tells the story of aspiring author, Skeeter (Emma Stone), who sets out to write a detailed account of the hardships African American maids face working for white families in the south. The film, which is based on the book of the same name, features stunning performances from Davis, Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jessica Chastain. It will make you laugh, cry, be angry, and be inspired all at the same time. You get both sides of what goes on in these households, and everyone involved gives Oscar-worthy performances. This movie needs to be seen. (Austen Terry)
Antwone Fisher is, without a doubt, one of the most underseen films starring Denzel Washington. What’s even rarer than that is this is Denzel’s directorial feature debut, and what a debut it is. The movie is ahead of its time in a few ways — it not only portrays mental health struggles faithfully and seriously, but it also takes place within the U.S. Navy without “fetishizing” it. I would say that is due to Denzel’s brilliance and understanding that we can have movies set in the Navy without going overboard (some pun intended). But most importantly, Antwone Fisher is about Antwone (Derek Luke) struggling to understand who he is. He portrays this young, abandoned man so well it’s heartbreaking. And his scene with Viola Davis (in one of her first roles before she became THE Viola Davis) is the pinnacle of this beautiful yet uneasy film. It’s almost criminal how underseen this movie is. Sure, if you see one too many dramas, nothing about it will surprise you, but Antwone Fisher can be held as the perfect example of “cliché done correctly”. It also proved Denzel is as capable of a director as is an actor, and that is nothing to scoff at. (Luke Burian)
When it comes to making an effective heist film, what is the most essential piece? The anchor. You can have the greatest ensemble, but you need that one lynchpin that holds it all together. For Steve McQueen’s Widows, that anchor is none other than Viola Davis. This crew of wives of dead thieves needs a leader who can bring them all together, and Davis is up for the task. She is powerful and holds her own in this incredibly tense and unflinching thriller, which not only looks at crime, but other important societal themes like racial tensions and politics. This isn’t a simple heist film that’s there to be cool and fun (no offense, Ocean’s Eleven). McQueen adds plenty of layers, and this Davis-led ensemble ties it all together. She’s is joined by Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo as this tough crew as they navigate a dangerous landscape full of twists and turns (especially the terrifying Daniel Kaluuya). Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall too? There are so many reasons to not say no to Widows. (Shane Conto)
The Woman King is one of the best films of 2022 so far. It’s an empowering film about an all-female unit of warriors called the Agojie, who protect the kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. This epic story stars the fierce and immensely talented Viola Davis as General Nanisca, a force to be reckoned with. There hasn’t been a moment where the Academy Award-winning actress has ever disappointed on the screen. She captivates, pulls you into every emotion, and you root for her to win. Davis is the star, but we can’t forget the ensemble who carries every scene they are in: Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega. Everybody knew they were in the presence of the juggernaut, and were neck and neck in every sequence. Along with the powerful performances from the cast, you can’t forget the vibrant cinematography, the African history, and the stylized action scenes. The film is an extraordinary tale that everyone should see at least once. The Woman King has been carrying buzz, and I hope to see it continue to awards season. I wouldn’t mind seeing Davis getting her fifth Oscar nomination. (Chantal Ashford)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is such a great movie when it comes to tension and the shattered dreams of individuals. But overall, it begins and ends with its amazing performances. This is a stacked cast anchored by Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) herself. Davis brings such life to Ma Rainey, with her no-nonsense attitude and leadership that demands attention. She leads her band through tough times, and takes ownership of her music. She stands up for herself in the face of racism and sexism from her white manager. You can’t help but tip your hat to Ma Rainey, the mother of blues. In addition to Davis, Chadwick Boseman gives us a career-best performance as Levee, an ambitious and naive trumpet player in her band. You can’t help but shake your head at Levee, who makes mistake after mistake being too trusting towards people he thinks will help him become successful. Levee is a tragic character, and it’s all the more sad that this is Boseman’s last live action performance before his death. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a strong addition to Davis’ already stacked resume of great performances, earning her her fourth nomination for best actress at the Academy Awards. (Mike Hilty)
You don’t need me to tell you that a four-time Oscar-nominated actress is good at acting, and the role for which a performer takes home the statue isn’t always correlative to their best performance. In the case of Viola Davis’s performance in Fences, I think it does happen to be true, though. With Davis playing Rose, the wife of Denzel Washington’s Troy in the adaptation of the August Wilson play following a working-class family in the 1950s, Davis was provided with the meatiest acting role of her career. It’s a pure performance piece, with both Davis and Washington giving 110% and trading punches like it was Balboa versus Drago. Despite what the Academy would have you believe, it’s very much a leading performance, and arguably the best pure performance of that year. But, I get it, you had to get out of the way of the Emma Stone Express and the ploy obviously worked, because it gave Davis her well-deserved award. It’s something I’ve been salty about since it happened. And, no, it’s NOT just because I firmly argued that it robbed Michelle Williams of her deserving performance, why do you ask? (Jake Bourgeois)
Director Denis Villeneuve’s filmography covers a range of genres, and he is highly successful in the film ventures he takes. In 2013 he chose to dabble in the crime/drama/mystery genre with Prisoners. This film demonstrates the lengths those will go to retrieve their loved ones, and how it can twist one’s humanity. It boasts an impressive cast that consists of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, and Paul Dano. Jackman and Gyllenhaal are brilliant in their roles, and are powerful throughout, but Davis, like she does in many films, is able to steal the show with very little screen time. When her character, Nancy Birch, is speaking to the restrained and potential kidnapper of her daughter, she is showing him a photo and the child’s cherished stuffed animal, and begins to tear up profusely. In such a small scene, you are able to place yourself in her predicament, and you can feel the profound sadness of not having her daughter in her arms. Prisoners provides both great direction and powerful performances that are authentic as they come. (Joe Vargas)
One of the best adaptations of a stage play to the screen, Doubt is both the movie’s title and its main theme. The story is told through the impossibly innocent and naive eyes of Sister James (Amy Adams). Her blind faith is shaken by the pragmatic nature of Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) and the suspicions she shares about Father Brendan Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman). His interest in the school’s first Black student becomes a red flag when Sister James smells alcohol on the child’s breath. Father Flynn has an answer for every accusation. Your instinct is he’s lying, but there is enough logic behind his answers and charm in his demeanor to cast doubt. Streep is more intimidating than even her role in The Devil Wears Prada, and it’s one of her most emotionally resonant roles. Viola Davis brilliantly conveys conflicted emotions and motivations in her limited screen time as the child’s mother, Mrs. Davis. The dynamic discussion between her and Sister Aloysius is haunting, and Hollywood is failing us by not casting them together again. Their talk is outdone only by the fiery confrontation between Hoffman and Streep. Director John Patrick Shanley properly enhances the source material by capitalizing on the church setting with sweeping cinematography, and he uses several Dutch angles to add to the unease. Doubt is a powerful social commentary loaded with stellar performances, and it is surprisingly funny with steady snide comments. The four main actors were nominated for Academy Awards for good reason. (Jason Mack)
Every now and then on the BEC, we talk about a powerhouse actor with a career full of great roles and strong performances, who came up through television, or had supporting parts in movies you may not immediately think of. Other times, seeing them on screen in their early years has you recreating the Leo DiCaprio meme on your couch. Out of Sight is definitely not a movie you’d stipulate as being a Viola Davis movie, but she’s in there for a hot minute, and if you’re not a completionist who’d watch it anyway, you’ll be glad to know it’s a banger regardless of her limited role. Starring George Clooney as a charismatic bank robber who just escaped from prison, you can see where the idea for Ocean’s 11 was born in Steven Soderbergh’s mind as soon as you catch one glimpse of him here. His chemistry with Jennifer Lopez is off the charts high, and the casually comedic nature the movie tackles its main plot with is reminiscent of some of Guy Ritchie’s better work. Where Ocean’s 11 is often mentioned as being a ‘cool’ movie, Out of Sight is one of very few ‘sexy’ movies that are also just very good. (Chris Bakker)
State of Play
Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, and Ben Affleck alone should typically be more than enough to get you to tune into a movie. But when that movie also includes the likes of Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, Jeff Daniels, and Jason Bateman, it’s all the more reason to push it up your watchlist as soon as possible. I’m of course talking about State of Play, which is about political corruption, loyalty, and journalistic ethics. Though it’s really not that old (it came out in 2009), it already feels like this one has been lost to time. Acclaimed writer Tony Gilroy is a co-writer on this film, and it has all the hallmarks of a sharp political thriller. Sleepless reporters, corruption, ethical dilemmas, and the “Journalism is important!” theme. It all comes together for an excellently intriguing time, and it’s one you won’t soon forget. (Robert Bouffard)
Law Abiding Citizen
You may not think “Viola Davis vehicle” when you think of great performances from the queen of Hollywood (I decided she was the queen for this write up). In fact, you forgot she was in Law Abiding Citizen at all, but she certainly brings it. In 2009, she was not yet a for sure Oscar nominee — she was still working on her breakout roles, which explains her being 13th billed once the credits role. Playing the role of Mayor April Henry, Davis commands respect just by being on the screen. She easily outshines Jamie Foxx with the limited amount of material she has. The scene in which she swears in Nick (Foxx) as District Attorney showcases how talented she is. In just a few lines, she conveys anger, sadness, and motivation. Looking back, we should have been more ready for Viola Davis to conquer Hollywood. (Scott Batchelor)
Also See: Traffic, Far From Heaven, Solaris, Get on Up