I have a soft spot for pulpy, stylish crime tales featuring a central protagonist going up against, well everyone, and redeeming themselves by putting it all on the line to do the right thing. I want it to drip style (from the costumes, to the cinematography, to the art direction) and to feature a string a campy characters with fun backstories and overflowing with moral ambiguity. When there is a dream cast along the likes of this one it all comes together a sweet treat that i can't resist.
Gunpowder Milkshake embraces its genre tropes and focuses on (1) telling a fun, over the top caper and (2) being as much fun stylistically as it is narratively. It doesn't attempt to elevate it into something more serious while also never talking down to its audience. Director Papushado offers us a fun time and delivers. Sure the film veers off into the silly occasionally but mostly stays on track to deliver its simple but satisfying plot.
I probably would have enjoyed it even more if the film had done any sort of in depth analysis of some of the issues staring it in the face. There's a rudimentary feminist message here but it's so basic it is almost missed. The film really never seems overly interested in anything beyond the. most simple of motivations for its characters but the story remains damn entertaining regardless. That paired with Papushado's sense of style, make Gunpowder Milkshake rather delicious.
So like the title suggests while there is little substance or nutrients to this confection, it is rather delicious and a guilty pleasure. Next time more Yoeh and Bassett please. Don't save the best you have for the sidelines.
Gunpowder Milkshake
Starring: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yoeh, Carla Gugino, Paul Giamatti, Chloe Coleman
Director: Navot Papushado
Writers: Ehud Lavski Navot Papushado
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