This week the first trailer dropped for Gunpowder Milkshake, a John Wick-style action film about women assassins that features a cast of truly kickass women: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Carla Gugino. A stylish action film filled with iconic actresses whose headquarters are a library? Inject it straight into my veins, please. Obviously we’re all in on what looks to be a blast of a movie. After all, the appearance of any one of these talented women is worth the price of admission, let alone all five.
But some folks are more interested in the film’s only male co-star of name, veteran character actor Paul Giamatti. And look, I love Mr. Giamatti. He’s always excellent. But come on with this tweet:
The Gunpowder Milkshake trailer is finally here and I have just two words for you: Paul. Giamatti. https://t.co/ryTOrIegL8
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) May 25, 2021
Whoever tweeted this for Buzzfeed apparently watched this entire trailer and their takeaway was Paul Giamatti? I am truly flummoxed. It’s like watching Ocean’s 8 and saying “I have two words for you: James. Corden.” Or watching Bridesmaids and saying, “I have two words for you: Chris O’Dowd.”
I’m sure Giamatti is great in the film (he always is), but can we celebrate the women in the women-driven movie just one goddamn time? I realize that misogyny is deeply ingrained in our culture, and its hideous effects are far more drastic than this silly tweet, but it bothers me nonetheless. And Buzzfeed isn’t the only outlet praising Giamatti’s brief appearance over the women:
Netflix’s Gunpowder Milkshake is about female assassins, guns … and Paul Giamatti https://t.co/V1K7UjGiyV pic.twitter.com/MZWZthC8My
— Polygon (@Polygon) May 25, 2021
Clearly I’m not alone. Many took to social media to call out the tweets:
Five women have the top line billing but yes let’s talk about Paul Giamatti
— hot vax summer sparks, mookie apologist 🖤🥂⚾️🏀 (@kyliesparks) May 25, 2021
I have two words for you but they’re not Paul Giamatti https://t.co/pVFEW6Qbxa
— Mere Smith (@EvilGalProds) May 25, 2021
…..what
— Molly Priddy (@mollypriddy) May 25, 2021
The Patriarchy of it all.
— Wick (@wickedgrrl) May 25, 2021
Lol totally. Love that performance of Paul Giamatti…*checks notes*…sitting behind a desk.
Who cares about those badass women doing stunts and giving awesome performances, am I right? https://t.co/s1gBnsqcx2
— lena luthor’s nipple piercings♟🔬🧪🥽 (@Magnum_Dorkus) May 25, 2021
no offense to Paul Giamatti but he was not my main takeaway from THIS CAST https://t.co/snOGprDFu8 pic.twitter.com/67VzANQmgz
— Lee (@leiladaisyj) May 25, 2021
All of those women in that movie/trailer. Paul Giamatti was the LAST person who caught my attention. https://t.co/m1yHZQCAHX
— Punky Brewster’s BFF (@MsBrooke_Lynn) May 25, 2021
I also like Paul Giamatti, but um…Karen Gillan. https://t.co/bHVjOogRyv
— Rebekah Kibodeaux Burns (@bekahbabble) May 25, 2021
THE ROCKFORD PEACHES ARE HERE AND I HAVE JUST TWO WORDS FOR YOU: JIMMY DUGAN https://t.co/C6Dxm7lOMD
— Elaine Atwell (@ElaineAtwell) May 25, 2021
Again, none of this would matter if women in Hollywood were given the same opportunities as men. But the deck is stacked against female-driven projects every step of the way: from development to financing to advertising to criticism, female-led projects consistently face an uphill battle. I can’t think of a better metaphor than the trailer itself: women leaping, fighting, and dodging bullets, while Giamatti gets props for sitting in a chair. The patriarchy continues to patriarchy, I guess.
(image: Netflix)
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