My Review of ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’ (2021)
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! (BUT THEY MAY ACTUALLY HELP YOU)
Wikipedia may describe this movie as an action thriller, but it’s clear from the start, its roots also lie deeply within neo-noir territory.
We meet the protagonist, Sam (short for Samantha, unlike some protagonists, I could name), who’s just killed some people we don’t really care about, so their names don’t matter. Or maybe they do.
Because, next thing you know, a lot of thugs crowd around her door. She notices them and aims a pair of guns right at them.
Okay, now we jump back 15 years. Sam is 12 years old and sharing a milkshake with her mother at a diner. It’s kind of a special diner. When people come in, the hostess tells them to leave their guns with her. At this point, I reasonably assumed that this story took place in the United States.
The guns were not the only clue, though. The adult Sam is played by none other than Karen Gillan (who does a damn good American accent and is more than up to the task of portraying this particular young lady).
Raised by wolves (in a sense), Sam works as an assassin for a man named Nathan (played by Paul Giamatti, who’s lucky to get a shout-out amid the rampant patriachal/matriarchal kung fu fighting/fisticuffs), the human resources head for the firm (which is literally called The Firm, so you know they’re nasty pieces of work) that hired Sam’s mother, Scarlet. Apparently, Scarlet really botched a job bad, so she has to split town and, presumably, never return (at least not until she’s needed for a plot twist/mother-daughter trope).
Okay, so now we’re back in the present, right? Back in the diner, which is still in business after 15 years. Still confiscating (most of the) guns at the door. That is some accomplishment right there.
It’s at this moment that Nathan meets Sam, who has her usual milkshake. Two straws, but they don’t share the drink. He’s only there to give her a mission. I don’t think all those dead guys from before are involved, but I could be wrong. In any case, she needs to get a shitload of money back from somebody really nasty. Someone with the temerity to steal all of this dough from a bunch of really rich white guys who are also very powerful, of course.
Things get complicated, however, when it turns out the robber’s daughter is being held hostage by some other Really Nasty People (or their people). Are they connected to The Firm, in any way? Was it a splinter group within The Firm or are they just another bunch of (white) assholes? I don’t know. But, unfortunately, she ends up killing him, even though she’s “not in a killing mood.” Sadly, accidents do happen.
These may be spoilers, but they might actually help you understand the story sooner. Because things are just starting after the other Really Nasty People’s people (I think) wipe each other out and the money is (basically) destroyed. And Sam’s left with a young child in her care, much like Ripley in Aliens. Or much like she was 15 years earlier.
At that point, for reasons best left unsaid, Sam is really thrown under the bus. (Not literally, but still …) And, at some point, she’s forced to go to her local library. And, by “library,” I mean guild of female assassins.
I really did enjoy this movie. It’s a lot of fun. And if some of this comes across as mockery, you simply have to admit that any action movie that shows a guy jumping up with a knife stuck in his chest, pulling it out, and charging right back into the fray, merits the tiniest bit of a send up.
I won’t go further into the plot, but trust me when I say I loved all the strong female characters in this one. Your all-star, awesome kick-ass female lineup includes: Lena Headey, as Scarlet; Carla Gugino, as a “librarian” (and by “librarian,” I mean “assassin”); Michelle Yeoh, as another librarian/assassin; and Angela Bassett, making up the trio of librarian/assassins who are all pissed off at Scarlet for ghosting them. Fifteen years is an awful long time not to answer a text or even send a post card.
There are lessons to be learned from this movie:
- Don’t steal from a powerful group of rich guys and not expect consequences;
- Never underestimate a woman or librarian, regardless gender.
And by librarian, I mean librarian. :)
Have I mentioned the color scheme in this film? Exquisite.
It’s almost like Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan collaborated on a Netflix project.
Imagine it …
INT. DINER — NIGHT
Quentin Tarantino (QT) sits in a booth across from Christopher Nolan (Chris). The color scheme is neon bright colors with shadowy corners. A five-dollar milkshake with two straws in it sits between them on the table.
QT sighs.
QT: Fine. You take the time shifting part. But I want to study the dailies of those parts.
(Blogger’s note: Do they still have dailies? Do they still call them that?)
CHRIS: Sure, sure. And I’ll give you first draft on the fight scenes and first choice of color palette. As for dialogue, I’m sure we can wing it.
AND SCENE!
Well, a girl can dream, can’t she? :)
Four stars seems fair. :)
Directed by Navot Papushado
Produced by Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman
Screenplay by Navot Papushado and Ehud Lavski
PS: According to Wikipedia, the answer is “yes”! 🙂
