The Ladies stand tall in Gunpowder Milkshake
by Tom Soares
Gunpowder Milkshake hits Netflix mid-week and, unfortunately, it has one big, unforgivable problem: at some point, this highly entertaining and overly exaggerated film comes to an end. And yes, that is a great trouble to have.
Directed by Israeli filmmaker Navot Papushado - who also teamed up with writer Ehud Laviski to pen the screenplay - Gunpowder Milkshake is a fast-paced and original action thriller, created in the molds of a film noir. Bright, beautiful, and always self-aware of its ridiculousness, the movie tells the story of Sam (Karen Gillan), a dangerous and cold-blooded assassin who risks her life to help an 8-year-old girl, after being responsible for the death of her father.
When things go awry and Sam is betrayed by the organization she works for, called The Firm, she teams up with her estranged mother, Scarlet (Lena Headey), and three other female assassins to protect herself and the girl.
Although we have seen Gillan in action many times before in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Endgame and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Gunpowder Milkshake cements her game as a leading star. Gillan could easily go on to become a huge action name, in the likes of Linda Hamilton, Sigourney Weaver, Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich, if she so chooses.
On top of that, Gunpowder Milkshake has an amazing support cast, such as Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino. These veteran actors play Anna May, Florence, and Madeleine, respectively, three deadly assassins known as Librarians and who also serve as aunt figures to Sam. The strong bond between these women is palpable, and their combat sequences not only rivals the ones done in Marvel Studios’ Black Widow but surpasses anything presented in Wonder Woman 1984.
The movie also has Paul Giamatti as Nathan, the head of The Firm, and Chloe Coleman as Emily, the little girl under Sam’s protection.
But action is not the only thing that Gunpowder Milkshake does well. Cinematographer Michael Seresin, who’s known for his work on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and War for the Planet of the Apes, borrowed greatly from film noir characteristics and used it to create the best contrast between bright neon colors and dark, suspicious locations. The cinematography in Gunpowder Milkshake, along with its production design and music, is one of the most harmonious work onscreen this year and captures the viewer the moment the movie begins.
Gunpowder Milkshake is also a great representation to what it must be like for women and their fight against patriarchy. From being betrayed by The Firm - a crime organization completely designed to benefit the interests of old white men - at a first sign of problem, to joining a sisterhood of brilliant women who vows to stay together no matter the odds, Sam’s journey is one of freedom – not only from a male dominated world but freedom to fight for the things that are important to her.
Gunpowder Milkshake is certain to become not only one of the best and most inventive movies of the year but a cultural sensation as time goes by. Karen Gillan brings in a career-defining performance and continues to make a name for herself as the next, big action lead.
Gunpowder Milkshake hits Netflix on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.