‘G20’ is a Movie that Exists
Viola Davis and Anthony Anderson in G20 | Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
When a terrorist group takes over the G20, President Sutton (Viola Davis) must take extreme measures to save herself, her family, and the other diplomats.
Did I go into this thinking it would be a good movie? No.
Did I watch it because of Viola Davis? Absolutely.
And my expectations were correct. Simply put: Viola Davis is far too good to be in this movie. There are a couple of moments when she has a reflective conversation that are incredibly powerful. Davis is one of the best actresses to ever do it and she brings all of her immense talent to this role.
I also wholeheartedly believe that Viola Davis can do anything, which makes her perfect for this role.
President of the United States? Yes.
Mom trying to figure out how to parent teenagers? Yes.
Diplomat trying to improve the lives of people around the world? Sure.
Ex-military who is grappling with the effects of that trauma? Yes.
Leader who is willing to go to extreme lengths to save others? Absolutely.
While the writing of this film is nothing special, Viola Davis does her part so well. G20 does all of the typical beats that this type of action movie must take, but Davis helps make those beats believable. While the film is going through the motions, she most certainly is not.
This is why I will watch anything that she is in, even if it is otherwise a mediocre film.
Viola Davis in G20 | Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
The other standout in G20 is Antony Starr as the villain, Rutledge. Starr is well-known for his portrayal of Homelander in The Boys. And Starr is just as well-suited for this role. The man is clearly good at playing villains; he’s found his niche and should keep rolling with that.
The writing in this film is really on the nose and, at times, is pretty painful. There’s not a lot of imagination in the dialogue or the plot, but Starr does what he can to bring the material to life in a rather delightful fashion. He seems to be having an absolute blast, relishing each mustache-twirling line. He’s perfectly over the top, which is required for a villain in this type of film.
I wish this had a better screenplay. Because the stars in this film are so incredibly talented, this could’ve actually been good. G20 also has a lot of interesting things to say about some of the ways the world is changing—crypto, deepfakes, using social media, and AI. It also touches on the value and challenges of diplomacy, the importance of listening to Black women, and how difficult it is to be a woman in a male-dominated field, whether politics, military, or some other leadership position.
It’s also important to see a Black woman in a role like this. People are never just one thing, and this film reminds us of that. President Sutton isn’t just one thing: she’s a politician, a mom, a wife, a friend, a diplomat, a veteran, and more. She makes mistakes in each of these facets of her life, but she also has immense strength in them as well.
In our world today, it’s more and more important to see Black women in these different types of roles. Though the film isn’t very good, it’s an important visual. Black women can be great leaders, and this mediocre film is a reminder of that.
It’s also a reminder that we don’t deserve Viola Davis. She’s so good and continues to grace us with her immense talent over and over again. I can’t wait to see what she does next!