THEn first TV, at 21.25 on Rai 2 it goes on the air Gunpowder Milkshakea film that, between Jane Austen books and shootings, aims to become a new all-female action franchise. Also thanks to a crazy cast made up of Lena Headey, Karen Gillan, Angela Bassett and Carla Gugino.
Gunpowder Milkshakethe plot of the movie
Sam (Karen Gillan) is only 12 years old when her elite assassin mother Scarlet (Lena Headey) is forced to leave her in a crime syndicate (The Firm) he worked for. 15 years later, the girl follows in her mother’s footsteps by working for The Firm as one of the best killers, faithful and efficient. But when a job ends badly, that’s it forced to choose between loyalty to her employers and the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl, Emily.
Having become a target, she has only one option to survive: to reunite with her mother and others Anna May, Madeleine and Florence. Better known as The Librarians, professional killers who (first thing) must learn to trust the young assassin. But the common goal, the money and the protection of the small and defenseless Emily – adopted by all – soon make the group one of the most efficient on the market.
A mix of Tarantino and comedy
Directed by the Israeli Navot Papushado, already author of Big Bad Wolves – The bad wolves, from the very first scenes Gunpowder Milkshake is configured as a hymn to female empowerment. Between atmospheres that recall Tarantino’s cinema, and in particular his heroines, and a solidarity between women of great power expressed through a compelling screenplay.
The film, in fact, was born in the wake of the incredible success of the saga John Wick which, in turn, generated a series of “clones” with mercenary killers and spies, including female ones. Proof of this is, for example, Blonde atomicmovies with Charlize Theron which has not surprisingly been defined as the “female John Wick”, although the screenplay develops on completely different bases.
The cast of “Gunpowder Milkshake”. (Courtesy Studio Canal)
It makes no difference Gunpowder Milkshake where, as in Blonde atomic, the female characters dominate the film and are active and decisive much more than their male counterparts. Painted as ridiculous, without personality and easily “trampled” by women. Contaminating comedy, action and intimate film, in the film the mix of genres is almost total and is a winning product given the constant change of pace, frenetic editing and excellent cinematography.
Lively and cheerful, the film perhaps sins in the excess of comedy which in some sequences is truly too engulfing compared to the other narrative endings. Stylistically inventive and never banal in dealing with women’s issues, There seems to be a sequel in development also seen the “open” ending that concludes the almost two hours of film.
Karen Gillan, the new diva of action fantasy
Born in Scotland in 1987, Karen she has been acting since she was a child and at 18 she moved to London to try a career. Off to a good start with an important role in the series Doctor Who – which he will maintain for three seasons. But it’s with the very bad Nebula dei Guardians of the galaxy by James Gunn – in 2014 – who achieved notoriety. Role also reprized in the two subsequent successful sequels, the last one released in 2023.
In 2017 there is instead the first leading role, in Jumanji – Welcome to the Jungle together with Dwayne Johnson and sequel to the 1995 film of the same name starring the late Robin Williams. Role reprized two years later in the sequel Jumanji: The Next Level by Jake Kasdan. Married to comedian Nick Kocher since 2022, Karen is filming TV series Rhona Who Lives by the River and a film with Russell Crowe, Sleeping dog: Story of a former homicide detective who, after undergoing a cutting-edge treatment protocol for Alzheimer’s, revisits a decade-old case involving a brutal man.
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