SummaryLila (Viola Davis) is a grief-stricken mother who in the aftermath of her son’s murder in a drive-by shooting attends a support group where she meets Eve (Jennifer Lopez), who has lost her daughter. When Lila hits numerous roadblocks from the police in bringing justice for her son’s slaying, Eve urges Lila to take matters into her own ha...
SummaryLila (Viola Davis) is a grief-stricken mother who in the aftermath of her son’s murder in a drive-by shooting attends a support group where she meets Eve (Jennifer Lopez), who has lost her daughter. When Lila hits numerous roadblocks from the police in bringing justice for her son’s slaying, Eve urges Lila to take matters into her own ha...
You can get a little lost following the chain of drug dealers who Lila and Eve gun down. Then again, narrative coherence isn’t really the point. What is vital is Davis’ wrenching performance as a mother who’s done everything right, but remains powerless to keep her children safe.
Oscar-winner Davis can maintain her dignity in just about anything, and she almost gives Lila enough depth to be a compelling character. Lopez gets points for trying something a bit more challenging than the hot-for-teacher dreck of "The Boy Next Door," but she inevitably struggles to hit more than one note.
Pitched somewhere between indie domestic drama and direct-to-video exploitation, Lila & Eve is the kind of film in which a sturdy, unsensational piece of acting can take the spotlight.
Viola Davis lets her Charles Bronson flag fly in Lila and Eve, a ludicrous revenge thriller that should have been called, “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.”
Both Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez deliver very convincing and strong performances as Lila and Eve. They actually are the reason why this movie stands out. Although the subject going on in the movie sounds very current, it's how entertaining and true the performances look like that take the movie to a next level. After some hiatus and some not so serious roles, Jennifer Lopez shows us again how great she is. The same can be said about Viola who is the heart of this film.
What can one say about LILA & EVE? Brought to us by Lifetime Films, LILA feels like the kind of film Lifetime never makes anymore but with actors well above par. Viola Davis is truly awesome in every way, delivering a performance that does not depend upon her usual over wrenching weepy. And JLO is pretty perfect, showing what a super actress she can be. The film kind of **** but I loved it. Full of strange twists and turns. It's not the movie you expect which is what makes it quite wonderful.
Foreseeable thriller, yet there's a hefty amount of personal conviction invested on Lila & Eve. The morality of revenge has been used as theme in many occasions, Kevin Bacon and Jodie Foster have made similar works before. While it doesn't necessarily innovate crime genre, Lila & Eve works by displaying the intimate issue with strong performance. It's a story about two mothers seeking justice, yet ultimately absorbed by the vengeance in an attempt to cope with the overwhelming sadness.
Viola Davis as Lila is easily the best asset of the movie. She's completely believable as the grieving mother, often seen hurt and confused in highly sympathetic manner. She can draw audience interest and even suspense judgment as she dabbles in less savory acts. Since the movie almost entirely revolves around her trial, it's a boon to have a reliable lead.
Jennifer Lopez has a mixed record in acting. There are a couple of good movies when she delivered, but most of the material she worked were mismatches. The most advantage she has is she can appear to be not glamorous, as in Parker and The Boy Next Door. With Viola Davis, the chemistry is definitely present, she appears to be an integral part of Lila's story than just a quest star.
The movie is not without flaws though. It's hampered with a few crude developments. They can be a bit problematic, although not entirely jumping towards one-man-army action theme or overly bloody violence. Furthermore, the plot twist it tries to pull is predictable and it could've been more refined or subtle in its delivery.
Unfortunately, many elements of the movie are notoriously cliché. The vigilante thriller and the chasing cop aspect feel much too familiar. However, Lila & Eve has enough private sentiment to be emotionally engaging even though the cause might not be just.
I started this movie thinking it was going to be a female-driven version of John Wick. Then I saw the Lifetime logo and my hopes dropped considerably. A lot of it was as I imagined, flimsy script, poor direction, giant plot holes, and THE BIG REVEAL that would probably shock the hell out of any 8 year olds watching. Anyone who has ever seen a movie before won't be surprised. This movie ****, but Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez both deliver impressive performances that make it ALMOST worth watching.